Conference Offer Views of Iraq and Iran Through Women's Eye

Newswise — The Global Women's History Project's April 2005 conference, "Women of Iraq and Iran: Visionaries in the 21st Century," brings together women from Iraq, Iran and the United States at a crucial moment in world history.

Women's rights leaders will talk about conditions in Iraq and Iran, and share their hopes for the future in this extraordinary four-day conference, scheduled April 14 - 17 at Westfield State College, Westfield, Mass. Events on Thursday evening, Friday and Saturday are open to the public.

"With no end in sight of the war and U.S. occupation of Iraq, and deteriorating U.S. relations with Iran, the conference will educate the general public about history and current events in the region, as well as the need to end war, poverty and violence against women," said Elise G. Young, professor of history at Westfield State College and director of the Global Women's History Project. The keynote speaker from Iraq is Yanar Mohammad, founder of the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI). She is highly regarded internationally for her brave efforts in defending women's rights in Iraq. The keynote speaker from Iran is Shahla Sherkat, internationally known as founder and publisher of the women's magazine Zanan.

Other participants include Houzan Mahmoud, a Kurd and representative of the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq, as well as editor of Equal Rights Now; Shahla Haeri, director of the Women's Studies Department at Boston University, co-coordinator of the conference and producer of the film, "MRS. President: Women and Political Leadership in Iran"; Ella Habida Shohat, also a writer, educator and political commentator who is featured in the film, "After Baghdad", about the experiences of Iraqi Jews; Maryam Namazie, director of the International Federation of Iranian Refugees, activist for refugee rights and television commentator; Manijeh Hekmat, a widely known film maker Iran and producer of the 2002 feature-length film, "Women's Prison"; and Zaineb Istrabadi, a leading Iraqi-American commentator, who grew up in Iraq and Indiana and helped found the Muslim Peace Fellowship.

"This is a critical time in relations between the U.S. and governments in the Middle East," Young said. "To meet the challenges of our times, we need an historical perspective and accurate information about women's struggles in Iraq and Iran."

"Women of this region have been confronted with social upheaval, murder, rape, kidnapping, starvation, illness, and homelessness," she said. "Women's lives are caught in the intersection of oppressive institutions at the global, national and local levels."

"Conference goals are to develop strategies with women of the region so that women can take leadership roles in ensuring human rights, addressing urgent issues in the region and working for peace and justice," Young said.

The conference opens Thursday, April 14, with a retreat for the delegates and a public plenary session at 7 p.m. in Scanlon Banquet Hall. Vicki L, Carwein, Westfield State president, and Joan Rasool, interim vice president for academic affairs, will welcome the delegates. The keynote speakers and a public reception will follow.

The public is invited to join presentations and workshops by the delegates on Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16, beginning at 9 a.m. The Arabic Music Ensemble, Layaali, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Scanlon Banquet Hall. The conference closes with a retreat for the delegates on Sunday.

The Global Women's History Project and Westfield State College also invite the public to this related event:

On Monday, May 2, Shirin Ebadi, 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner, will follow up on the Global Women's History Project Conference at Westfield State College by addressing issues of human rights of women and children, and freedom of speech at 7p.m., in Dever Auditorium, Parenzo Hall.