A group of female activists in Iran called on Khamenei to resign.

A group of female activists inside Iran have issued a statement calling for the leader to step down and for a transition from the Islamic Republic. One of the signatories spoke to DW about the objective reasons for this demand and its welcome.

Fourteen civil society and women's activists within the country have issued a statement calling for the transition from the Islamic Republic and the resignation of its leader, Mr. Khamenei.

The statement addressed "compatriots" and, referring to what has happened to Iranian women in the last 40 years, wrote: "Four decades of the rule of the absolute authority of the jurist have led to the inhuman elimination of half of the country's population, "with all their capacities and abilities" in terms of equal citizenship rights and human dignity."

The signatories say, "Many of our basic and human rights as Iranian women were denied, and our gender and female identity were placed under the guardianship of absolute authority, male gender, and patriarchal culture. Anyone who protested against this gender discrimination was subjected to insults and humiliation, beatings, imprisonment, and even in some cases, torture and execution!"

These women have become “demanders for a secular, democratic government that preserves Iran’s territorial integrity.” A government “that can guarantee the rights of women in society.”

Stating that they are determined to continue their struggle in a civil and non-violent manner until their full demands are met, they have called on the public to join them and support them, a support that they believe can “become a comprehensive and nationwide movement…”

Giti Pourfazel, a lawyer and one of the signatories of the statement, answered DW's questions about the statement. The first question was how much they hope that the public, or even a significant segment of women, will get behind this demand and move in support of it.

In response, she points to the current situation in Iran, calling it an unstable and bankrupt situation, economically, politically, and socially. Ms. Pourfazel believes that this dissatisfaction will resurface on a large scale, saying: “The situation in Iran is exploding. The dissatisfaction is so deep that it could be ignited at any moment with a match.”

Two months ago, 14 civil and political activists issued a statement calling on the Leader of the Islamic Republic to step down. Referring to their statement, Giti Pourfazel says: "After that, we decided to issue a statement and insist on our demands: that the Leader resign. Because he has not been able to lead the country as it should and satisfy the people. One of the most important issues is that the country has experienced politicians who know how to take steps to reduce the problems facing the people."

Giti Pourfazel believes that the explosive movement of society may happen very quickly, and that Iranian society has now reached a stage where it can stand behind the demand for Ayatollah Khamenei's resignation.

The statement was widely welcomed on social media.

He also points to the fate of countries around Iran that continued their policy of repression and are now in a very deplorable security, economic, and social situation. These activists hope that Iranian politicians will look to the region to avoid pushing Iran to the brink of collapse.

Regarding the reactions in Iran to this statement, Ms. Pourfazel says that it has been welcomed by many in cyberspace and believes that "cyberspace demonstrates the depth of sentiment in Iranian society, because it is a place where people can speak out without fear of repression."

Deutsche Welle's final question, which may be the first for many who read the statement, is whether they are not worried about the consequences of the statement they have issued, are they not afraid? He says: "We are familiar with the stigma and the flag of this repressive regime. We have been enduring it for 40 years. We have become accustomed to violence being committed against us."

In Giti Pourfazel's opinion, it is a bitter reality that "prisons in Iran are constantly full, and every group that is released is replaced by another group," but it also has a clear meaning: "A country that has reached this point should know that its patience has run out." His hope, and probably the hope of the other signatories, is that society will not remain silent if their lives and security are attacked.

Source: DW