Agnès Callamard on Iran War, Global Fight for Gender Justice & Killing of Yanar Mohammed

Yanar Muhammad, co-founder of the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq and a pioneer of women's shelters, was assassinated in Baghdad. Agnès Callamard frames her death as a direct consequence of the ongoing war, arguing that such conflicts create environments where human rights defenders become targets, often mischaracterized as 'Westernized' despite their nuanced positions against all forms of aggression and patriarchy.

Yanar Muhammad was killed by unidentified gunmen after returning to Iraq. Callamard states, 'we feel that she is one of the victims of the current war' and that she 'became the symbol of this westernized person which she wasn't because as you know she took very strong position against all wars of aggression as she took position against patriarchy and violence in Iraq.'

Callamard asserts that the US-Israeli attacks on Iran do not protect Iranian protesters or advance human rights. Instead, these actions lead to increased repression by the Iranian government, internet blackouts, and endanger prisoners held in facilities near bombing targets. She highlights the regime's human rights violations but firmly rejects external military intervention as a solution.

Callamard states, 'these attacks the Israeli US attacks on Iran are doing nothing to protect the Iranian protesters and those who have been at the forefront of fighting the government.' She notes, 'the Iranian government increases the repression. It has imposed an internet blackout.'

The 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is significantly hampered by US visa restrictions, particularly affecting activists from African nations. Additionally, fear of US immigration enforcement (ICE) deters many from attending. This leads to a less diverse and smaller representation, while some countries, emboldened by the Trump administration, actively try to weaken consensus language on gender, reproductive rights, and women's human rights defenders.

Callamard explains that the CSW 'will be a smaller commission on the status of women because either people are afraid of coming to the United States or are not getting visas.' She adds, 'the Trump administration has basically imposed visa vetos on a large number of countries mostly in Africa.'

The host and guest discuss how women's rights are cynically used by governments, like the Bush administration in Afghanistan or the Trump administration in Iran, as a justification for military intervention. Callamard argues that these same administrations simultaneously undermine women's rights domestically and globally through policies like the global gag rule and attacks on gender-related narratives, exposing the hypocrisy of such claims.

The host recalls Laura Bush's radio address framing the Afghanistan invasion as 'to save women.' Callamard states, 'there is a clear instrumentalization of women's rights. I think we all know that this government could not care less.' She cites the Trump administration's efforts 'to weaken the domestic protection for women's rights' and 'impose a global gag rules over sexual and reproductive rights around the world.'

The Trump administration is actively targeting international justice mechanisms and individuals who report on human rights violations, such as sanctions against ICC judges and UN Special Rapporteurs like Francesca Albanese. These actions aim to make international scrutiny a 'battleground' and send a chilling message to those who dare to speak out, potentially harming the entire international justice system.

Callamard describes it as 'a clear attempt by this administration to make international scrutiny, international justice a battleground. They went after ICC judges. They are going after... Francesca and they went after Palestinians organizations.'

The framing of conflicts, particularly in Iran, as a 'holy war' by US officials and military commanders, often rooted in Christian nationalist ideology, is deeply alarming. Callamard notes that religion has historically been a primary driver for violating and justifying the violation of women's rights. Such rhetoric, exemplified by calls for 'an alliance of Christian white people' and commanders viewing war as 'God's divine plan,' sends shivers through women globally.

Callamard mentions Marco Rubio's call for 'an alliance of Christian white people' and the host cites a combat unit commander saying 'the war is part of God's divine plan.' Callamard states, 'religion has never been a friend of women's rights. religion has been the primary driver through which women's rights have been violated and the violations have been justified in the name of a higher godly principle.'