Iranian Embassy Seminar Commemorates Palestinian Women’s Resilience Against Zionist Occupation
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- In a seminar titled “Palestinian Women and Ongoing Persecution” held in the capital city of Algiers on Saturday, participants underscored that Palestinian women are symbols of resilience against Zionist occupation despite enduring persecution and deprivation for 75 years. Describing them as the “fuel” of resistance, the speakers highlighted their pivotal role in fostering and protecting the values of belonging to the land and homeland, serving as the backbone of Palestinian steadfastness.
The event, organized by the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Algeria to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, featured discussions on the struggles of Palestinian women under the continuous Zionist occupation.
Mrs. Mahdieh Sadaat Babaei, the spouse of the Iranian Ambassador to Algeria, acknowledged the decades-long persecution faced by Palestinian women under Zionist rule. Despite this, she emphasized that these women have taught the world the values of sacrifice and commitment to their land and homeland.
Furthermore, Mrs. Babaei highlighted the enduring resistance of oppressed Palestinian women, who continue to raise and nurture generations of resilient fighters, sacrificing their most precious possessions for the establishment of a Palestinian state with Al Quds as its capital.
Fatima Zohra Zerouati, the former Minister of the Environment and Renewable Energies and the President of the “Tajamou Amel Algeria” party, condemned the Zionist aggression on Gaza, emphasizing the barbaric methods employed by the occupying entity. She pointed out that the bombing and destruction of homes specifically targeted women and children, highlighting the deliberate acts of violence against them.
Zerouati stressed that the Zionist entity fully understands that Palestinian women are the “fuel” of resistance, integral to preserving the Palestinian population and future generations. She emphasized the need for an in-depth study of the Palestinian woman’s ability to give birth to resistance despite persecution.
Dr. Samia Gatouch, a member of the Higher Islamic Council, affirmed that Palestinian women, representing a vivid image of daily injustice, play a vital role in building the infrastructure of the struggle against the Zionist occupier. She noted their ability to shape awareness in their children’s minds from an early age.
Fatiha Hemer, a professor of international law, pointed out that the Zionist aggression on Gaza showcased the miraculous resilience of the Palestinians, instilled in them by Palestinian women since childhood.
For her part, the academic and journalist Hana Saada highlighted a crucial point: the phenomenon of selective compassion and its transformation into utter indifference. The observation revolves around the inconsistency in the outpouring of sympathy in certain situations, while in others, it turns into complete apathy. Dr. Saada raises pertinent questions about the conditioned nature of compassion, often based on racial or ethnic considerations, and how it aligns with political and ideological agendas.
The speaker delved into instances where Western media and individuals exhibit varying levels of compassion based on the ethnicity or religion of the victims. Notably, the comparison between the coverage of Ukrainian refugees, some labeled as “white like us,” and the lack of empathy for refugees from Muslim-majority countries like Syria and Afghanistan is stark. This, according to Dr. Saada, reflects a contempt for human suffering and indicates that compassion is often contingent on specific genetic traits or serves political and ideological agendas.
The case of the Iranian girl, Mahsa Amini, serves as a poignant example. Despite conclusive evidence from Iranian authorities that she died of natural causes, Western media outlets perpetuated a narrative that fueled unrest in the country. The coverage, according to Dr. Saada, was part of a psychological warfare campaign to destroy morale and manipulate public sentiment. The report underscores the hypocrisy and double standards in the Western approach to women’s issues, exploiting some for political purposes while ignoring the suffering of others.
Moreover, the speech shed light on the death of Zainab Majid Al-Khazali, a 15-year-old Iraqi girl killed by a stray bullet from U.S. forces during a training exercise. The Western silence on her tragic fate contrasts sharply with the amplified coverage of Mahsa Amini’s case, exposing the biased nature of media attention.
Dr. Hana Saada emphasized that the same selective compassion is evident in the treatment of Palestinian women, who endure the brutality of an oppressive occupier. The speaker criticized the West for its double standards, shedding tears for fabricated stories while turning a blind eye to the real-life struggles of Palestinian women, prisoners, and victims of violence. Saada concluded with a condemnation of Western hypocrisy and urges a reevaluation of the ethical foundations of compassion.
Given the United Nations’ selection of November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and this year’s theme “No Excuse,” Hemer emphasized that there is no excuse for the crimes committed by the Zionist occupation, its racial discrimination, and the atrocities against the Palestinian people, in violation of the Geneva Conventions protecting children and women during conflicts and wars.
The seminar featured interventions from civil society activists, human rights advocates, and poets who shed light on the steadfastness and resistance of Palestinian women despite the oppressive actions of the Zionist occupier. The speakers praised their strong will and the cultivation of a spirit of nationalism and resilience in successive generations, choosing resistance and confronting the Zionist occupation until victory.
