Nowruz, the Persian new year, was celebrated with an event in Phoenix this month that also commemorated women’s rights movements in the Middle East. Event organizers honored women who are advocating for their rights in Iran and Afghanistan.
“Women’s rights are human rights,” a woman repeats into a bullhorn outside of a P.F. Chang’s restaurant on the corner of Camelback and Scottsdale roads. About 50 people are here, within feet of the entrance to Scottsdale’s busy Fashion Square Mall. The group gets a permit from the city of Scottsdale for each demonstration.