Iranian Intelligence Services Prevented the First Women's Peotry Seminar in Al-ahwaz

Iranian Intelligence services prevented the first women's peotry seminar in Al-ahwaz despite obtaining prior permission from Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance at least two months ago. The first seminar of its kind  “In the Footstep of Al Khansa” was due take place on Thursdays 30 April 2015 by the organiser Al-Hilal Cultural Society.

Al Khansa was a 7th-century Arabic female poet and one of the greatest Arab poets, famous for her elegies.

Iranian intelligence services did not give reason for their action. 

Two months, and after obtaining permission, the organisers had announced the event by sending invitation to Ahwazi female poets. The critics and judges were already begun considering the submitted poems by female poets. The organisers had also prepared and were ready to present two paper studies on Ahwazi poetry at the seminar.

As part of its cultural cleansing against Ahwazi Arabs, Iran has recently intensified itscrackdown on Ahwazi Arabs cultural rights activists and poets by preventing Ahwazi Arab activists in different cities from organising mainly, for example, poetry events to celebrate Ahwazi Women day and commemorating the 10th anniversary on 15 April 2005 Ahwazi Intifada.

Iran has long violated the Ahwazi women’s universal human rights including those guaranteed in UN’s Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Convention Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.