The Iranian Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi says Iranians fighting for equal gender rights will take to the streets on March 8, International Women’s Day.
Ebadi released a statement saying that a "democratic government" in Iran requires a review of the constitution, and such a legal review would be the first step toward "a civil movement in Iran."
In recent years, Iranian women’s rights activists have been prevented from staging demonstrations on March 8, with Islamic Republic security forces crushing any attempt.
"Beware not to forget your rightful and persistent demand for equal rights in the midst of political events!" Ebadi warns Iranian women. "On this day, side by side our brothers and compatriots, we will come to the streets to support popular demands because equal rights can only be realized under democratic rule."
The Iranian opposition has invited protesters to take to the streets on every Tuesday leading to Iranian New Year on March 21, to demand the release of Iranian opposition leaders and to protest government policies toward demonstrators.
On March 1st, the birthday of MirHosein Mousavi, protesters took to the streets in the face of widely deployed security personnel in Tehran and other major cities.
The next Tuesday on the Iranian protest calendar falls on International Women’s Day. Some women’s rights activists have criticized opposition websites for failing to call for the protests in the name of International Women’s day.
