Sanna Anehagen

Name of the project/report:
The compulsory hijab in Iran

Tell us about the report and why did you choose to write about this subject?
This report is about the compulsory hijab in Iran. How women are robbed of the freedom to decide themselves if they want to wear hijab or not. The aim was to examine how the law is challenged, how it is perceived, and what mechanisms relevant actors believe are required for a change in the future. The report provides both a historical- and legal perspective on the law and what the regime does to the people who do not obey the law.
Our group decided to write about this subject since we wanted to raise awareness about the situation for women in Iran, and how the law violates both fundamental human rights and international law. At the end of the report, we conclude with recommendations for the Islamic Republic of Iran itself, the UN, other governments in the world, and organizations that are deemed fit and proposed.

Did you work in team or independently?
I worked in team with Johanna Palmgren, Sirine Ameur, and Maria Kjellgren.

How was it to work in a team environment?
I really enjoyed working with my team. The work labor fell natural on each and one of us and we had fun along the way. We helped each other when it was needed, took responsibility for our parts, bounced ideas off each other, and cooperated in the best way possible. The team environment could not be better in my eyes.

What was challenging in the process of writing the report?
It was challenging to find different Iranian documents at some time, especially when it was written in Farsi. It was also challenging to find people to interview.

What skills and experiences from previous courses in human rights were helpful during your work with the report?
The gained knowledge through the courses at UCS in “legal perspective in human rights and democracy” and “politics and practice in human rights and democracy” was really helpful when we wrote the report since we learned a lot about international law and different conventions – an important aspect throughout our report.

What skills and experiences from this course could help you in the future?
I have gained a deepened knowledge of women’s situation in Iran and that is something I will take with me. In the future, I hope to see a change in Iran. A change where everyone is born equal, where no one is forced to wear a specific type of clothing and where everyone has the right to self-determination, freedom of religion, and freedom of expression.

From this course, I will take with me the differences between writing a report and an academic paper and my other classmates’ findings in their reports. Overall – very grateful for this course.