Q1. Please provide a brief introduction about yourself.

Iranian midwife, activist, women’s rights and health advocate, and, a writer who currently moved to Sweden. The former head of Mazandaran midwifery association and  Iran contact for ICM(International Confederation of Midwives). Iran contact for Midwifery today. Author of the book ‘Is it safe in pregnancy? I am still determined to continue helping Iranian women by raising awareness about pregnancy, health-related issues, and women’s rights.

Q2. As someone with in-depth knowledge of Midwifery, you would agree that the veil of unawareness needs to be lifted on this subject. Could you tell our readers more about Evidence Based Midwifery?

Evidence-Based Midwifery(EBM) is an approach that helps us to find the best available evidence and research. This access is crucial for us to proceed based on patient preferences into practice and deliver patient-centered care. On the other side, a lack of  EBM can prevent us(midwives) from reaching our full potential. As you know midwives play a crucial role in surveillance and coordination activities that reduce adverse patient outcomes therefore they are considered key professionals in improving women's healthcare quality. I have been practicing Evidence since 2010 and tried to promote this among my Iranian colleagues as well. I came to the idea of promoting the “Global network of midwives” (GNM) in 2017 and had a video presentation 3rd World Congress on Midwifery and Women’s Health; London, about GNm as a solution for disparate access to health and rights for women, I hope this dream come true and every woman on this planet can access to standard and equal rights for health care.

Q3. Apart from all the wonderful roles you play, you are an Author too. Would you like to throw some light on the book you have written?   I had a private office and also a free educational website for women about pregnancy care, postpartum care, and generally women’s health and rights. In a few years, I realized there is a lack of information about pregnant women’s most concerning topics such as what is safe to eat, do, etc. There was no book in the Persian language about the topic. Then I realized pregnant women need instructions for their daily pregnancy life, diet, exercise, sex and etc. Then I started to gather their common questions and then wrote the book which I’m honored that was praised by both colleagues and women it was the first one of a kind. It was important for me to answer the questions scientifically and also give advice and tips that they can use in real life. 

Q4. Spinfluence – our monthly newsletter is focusing on Women’s Rights in Middle East Countries in October Edition. How would you describe the situation of Women’s Rights as an activist and a resident of the Middle East?

The truth is women’s rights and health are correlated and women’s health has a powerful impact on societies. In these countries, you can see governments with specific programs that have a similar pattern. Where science and expert opinion are easily ignored. Although the problems of women in the Middle East are seen in different ways, they have similar roots. From banning the education of female students in Afghanistan, a long battle to get the right for women to drive in Saudi Arabia, intimate partner violence and sexual violence in Pakistan, femicide in Turkey, raping Iranian women protesters by Iranian security forces, etc. UN-Women report in 2017 showed that only one-quarter of men in the Middle East support gender equality. Unfortunately, Gender-based violence is still the most common violation of rights in the region. What is happening in Iran and other Middle Eastern countries regarding women’s rights to their health and body should change now because even tomorrow is late!

Q5.Your key focus area is sexual health education and family planning. However, you mentioned these topics to be sensitive, and in most cases – forbidden. What are your insider perspective on these topics and their existing scenario in Iran?

Fighting our society's misconception of sexual health, women’s rights and midwives' vital role in society was my everyday job and I learned to be creative in getting my message out I thought I created a successful path but unfortunately, the government has its own agenda regarding women's rights and health which aren't in the line with the woman's best interest. Iran managed to bring down fertility from an average of 7 lifetime births per woman in 1986 to 1.2 in 2015, with only a minimal gap between “urban and rural areas”. But the policy changed and since 2021 there are no free contraceptives such as IUDs, condoms, or pills, …in governmental health centers. There are also no free visits or contraceptives for high-risk women as well. Now even the prescription of contraceptives is allowed only by midwives and gynecologists in private sectors.

Q6. Abortion has been a topic under constant scrutiny and limelight. What’s the situation around Abortion laws like in your country? As a woman and a citizen, do you wish women had a more active role in taking such imperative life decisions? Abortion is still forbidden(haram) and according to UN human rights experts report this new law severely restricts access to abortion, contraception, voluntary sterilization services, and related information, in direct violation of women’s human rights under international law. The ‘Youthful Population and Protection of the Family law, which aims to boost the fertility rate, was approved on 1 November 2021. Even after a rape, abortion is illegal in Iran and they don’t even offer after-morning pills. Midwives and other health care professionals face jail time or fines if they help or counsel women to have an abortion. It’s not medicine anymore it’s religion(Shariah-laws) that decide about women and society’s health, rights, and future! Unfortunately, sexual health education is not part of the school curriculum and now girls are encouraged to get married and have more kids! I am in daily contact with women, activists, and colleagues there and I try to educate women and midwives on social media there is much concern right now about unsafe abortions. Iran's laws on abortion are a violation of human rights and every woman should have the right to decide for her body. 

Q7. As an activist, what kind of change do you envision for the coming generation of women in the Middle East?

You might have heard about women’s rights issues in Iran and the government's ways of suppressing women and yet during ongoing protests in Iran, despite the regime brutality women have been leading the protests inside and outside of the country. We all are working around the clock for women's voices to be heard and we had all support from feminist movements in the region and all around the world. I believe that there will be many changes in the status of women's rights in the region. Although the changes are not the same in different countries of the region, feminist movements in Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkey have taken great and important steps and are more organized.

Q8. Last but not the least, would you like to share an anecdote that deeply impacted you or a piece of advice for young girls and women living in an environment that doesn’t embrace their rights?

After the Islamic revolution, it was very hard to see injustice and cruelty toward women and children. Then I learned how to fight for my rights and for other women. To do the right thing I learned from a quote and I always tell it to my daughters and others. My battle is against darkness. But I do not draw the sword to fight darkness; instead, I stoke a light. Zoroaster. We as feminists have the same dream" a better future for all" so my advice to all young girls is to try to build a society where everyone including you can have an individual dream.

26 October 2022

Narjes Shiraghaei