IRAN: First group of Iranian female officers graduate from Tehran Police Academy

Record ID: 315353

  • Title: IRAN: First group of Iranian female officers graduate from Tehran Police Academy
  • Date: 12th March 2006
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN POLICE CHIEF ISMAEIL AHMADI-MOQADDAM SAYING: "The formation of the female police squad is an achievement of the Islamic Republic of Iran, it is a step forward in the process of guaranteeing the women of Iran their rights."
  • Embargoed: 27th March 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Police
  • Reuters ID: LVA8R9J29IAFAU7QGP9AMADBO3X5
  • Story Text: A graduation ceremony for the first batch of female police officers was held at Teheran Police Academy on Saturday (March 11).
    The freshly minted graduates, dressed in chadors and carrying assault rifles marched at an elaborate parade to celebrate the occasion.
    Iranian Police Chief Ismaeil Ahmadi-Moqaddam told the newly qualified police officers that their graduation was a sign of respect for women's rights in Iran.
    "The formation of the female police squad is an achievement of the Islamic Republic of Iran, it is a step forward in the process of guaranteeing the women of Iran their rights," he said.
    Human rights activists say Iranian women have fewer rights than men in the Islamic Republic and frequently list Iran among countries which suppress women's rights.
    Iranian women cannot run for presidential office or serve as judges. They cannot have full guardianship over their children after divorce while their husbands can marry more than one woman, and automatically get custody of children after a divorce. Iranian women inherit only half as much of their parents' wealth as their brothers.
    The country's conservative authorities forbid women from simple activities such as watching the World Cup qualifying soccer game live in a stadium.
    Since the 1979 overthrow of the Shah, the fundamentalist governments dominated by clerics have stressed the traditional role of women and restricted their civil rights and participation in political activities.
    It remains to be seen whether Saturday's graduation will become a step towards the introduction of more rights for Iranian women or a move which may result in even more separation of women from the male part of the society.
    "It may be difficult for a woman to articulate the problems to a male police officer, I think women would feel more comfortable dealing with female police officers," one of the graduates said indicating her understanding of her role as a police officer.
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