The Leading Role of Women in the November 2019 Uprising in Iran

NCRI Women's Committee

Today, as we mark the anniversary of the November 2019 uprising — one of the largest uprisings in modern Iranian history — we’ll explore the role, widespread presence, and leadership of women in this movement. This uprising showcased extraordinary moments of courage and leadership by Iranian women.

We dedicate this episode to the women of the November 2019 uprising, and we’ll focus on the role of women in the Resistance Units and their contributions to the fight for Iran’s freedom.

Let’s start with this question: How would you describe the November 2019 uprising?

The November 2019 uprising was sparked on the 15th of November by a sudden hike in fuel prices. Protests rapidly spread to 191 cities. Iranians from all walks of life poured into the streets, chanting slogans like “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to Rouhani.”

In the early days of the uprising, protesters in cities such as Shiraz in the south, Behbahan in the southwest, Tehran Province, and other major cities temporarily liberated areas, challenging security forces and significantly disrupting the regime’s control.

Regime officials admitted that they were simultaneously battling the uprising in 900 locations nationwide, with 146 crisis points in Tehran alone. The scale and intensity of the uprising shook the regime to its core, so much so that they could only suppress it through brutal massacres. This uprising revealed the explosive potential and power of the Iranian people to overthrow the regime.