Iran, Afghanistan and Australia – women are standing up for equality all around the world.
Here are some of the inspiring women you should know about this week.
1. Iranian Actress Taraneh Alidoosti
Alidoosti, one of Iran’s most famous actresses, showed her support for the Mahsa Amini protests with a photo of her holding a sign reading”Woman, Life, Freedom”.
Alidoosti – who appeared in the film “The Salesman”, which won the Oscar for Best International Film in 2016 – was arrested on Dec. 17 after she criticized authorities for executing Mohsen Shekari, the first known protester to be hanged.
2. Women University Students In Afghanistan
Women students in Afghanistan are fighting for their right to receive higher education after the Taliban banned them from attending university on Dec. 20.
The announcement came just months after students had completed university entrance exams.
Previously, the Taliban had allowed women to attend university as long as classes were segregated by gender.
Last year, the Taliban banned girls from middle and high school, reopening secondary schools only for boys.
3. Australian Deputy Speaker Sharon Claydon
Claydon, the Australian Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives called out the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, for repeatedly addressing her with the wrong title of “Mr. Speaker”.
Dutton had been delivering a speech criticizing prime minister Anthony Albanese’s government’s proposed energy bill on Dec. 15 when he kept referring to Claydon as “Mr. Speaker.”
Claydon then interrupted him to correct him.
“You continue to call me ‘Mr. Speaker’, and I’ve given it a long rein,” Claydon said. “You need to use my correct title, and when you’re referring to other members…”
“You continue to call me ‘Mr. Speaker’, and I’ve given it a long rein,” Claydon said. “You need to use my correct title, and when you’re referring to other members…”
