Minou Mirabal: Women's struggle in Iran has created butterfly effect

Photo: JinNews/Gülistan Dursun

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With only days left to November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, dedicated to the Mirabal sisters from the Dominican Republic, Minou Mirabal, daughter of one and niece of the other two Mirabal sisters, was in İstanbul for an event organized for the occasion.

Mirabal's mother and two aunts were killed on November 25, 1960 in the Dominican Republic, in an assassination organized by dictator Trujillo of the time.

bianet interviewed Mirabal following the event.

"Mirabal Sisters continue to inspire"

How do you see both your mother and your aunts?

I always tell this to everyone everywhere: Mirabal sisters stand at a very important place in the history of the Dominican Republic, of Latin America, and the whole world. They always continue to give inspiration.

Although they have lost their lives, although there is no information on the pages of that history about feminism, even where such concepts were not yet named in those days, they are with us with their ideas, the ideas that they represent with their souls.

There was no freedom of thought for them in those days, they did not have access to books and many concepts, but they have become a symbol for women's struggle with the movement they started as a political action.

I can say as an academician studying politics and as a woman living in the Dominican Republic that they not only continue to inspire us and to give us strength, but they also prevent violence against women to take root and accelerate even further.

Dictator has killed her mother and her two aunts

Minou Mirabal is the daughter of Manuel Aurelio Tavárez Justo and María Argentina Minerva Mirabal, both lawyers and political activists. Both were among the founders of the June 14 political movement founded in 1960 in order to overthrow Dictator Rafael Trujillo. Her mother and her two aunts were killed in an assassination organized by the dictator on November 25, 1960.

Patria, Minerva and María Teresa are also called the "butterflies" since the code name of one of the  Mirabel sisters was "butterfly." 

"I am proud of my family"

This is part of my childhood, part of my story, and part of the story of my country. This issue is still alive. We see a political struggle but behind the political struggle, we also see love and solidarity. The Dominican Republic is a country that is very little known. But they have created awareness everywhere in the world. Thus I am proud of my country and my family.

The struggle for democracy and the struggle for human rights is so important in every country, so that is why the Mirabal sisters are still alive.

What would you like to say about the women's movement in the Dominican Republic and in the world?

There is a long way to go. There are still a little number of deputies in the parliament of the Dominican Republic. There are many things that should be done.

There are many things that the feminist movement has to achieve. For instance, the budgets should be prepared, taking into account women's rights, and education also.

I do not know about the women's movement in Türkiye much but I warmheartedly support them. I see the decisions of Mustafa Kemal concerning women as great gains for the women in Türkiye.

Photo: AA

"In Iran, one step by one woman reached thousands"

Are you able to follow the movement of women in Iran?

I believe that the women in Iran should continue, they should not give up. The whole world has seen how far the regime harasses them. They should not back down from their rights.

They can make their voices heard on the streets. They should never compromise. I believe that they should continue their struggle.
Only two months ago, nobody would think that there would be such actions in Iran. But one step by one women caused an uprising in the whole country.

Such a movement created a great awareness not only in Iran but in the whole world. The whole world is supporting them and we should always support them.

A small movement then gains such momentum. It has a butterfly effect. We have to see how a butterfly can cause great storms.

What would you like to say about your grandfather Mirabel who brought you up?

A book will be published about him next year. He raised me and for me, he is a mother. He is such a great storyteller that he managed a museum to be established. And this is the most visited museum in the Dominican Republic with visitors from all over the world and from within the country. It is a burden on him that he survived the massacre. Therefore it was like a heritage for him to tell about what happened to the new generations.

We have to unite in our struggles and make our voices heard louder. I believe with all my heart that our voices will be heard.

We were able to do it before. If we look at all revolutions that took place in the world, we can see that women have led them. We are half of society. I believe that women's movements in the whole world will get stronger, will unite, and will clear our way. Look at Iran. It was the same with the women's struggle in Chile. The movement in Chile influenced the whole world. We are demanding the rights that already belong to us. Somebody had to stand up and say these things. We should never take a step back. We are struggling and we will win.

The butterflies

Patria, Minerva and María Teresa known as the Mirabal sisters were struggling against the Rafael Trujillo dictatorship that ruled the Dominican Republic from 1930 until 1961.

Demanding democracy and human rights, they were sent to prison many times.

One of the sisters, Maria Mirabel, had said "Death is what is closest to us but this does not make me afraid. We will continue to fight for all that is right."

Since the code name of one of the Mirabel sisters was "butterfly" the three sisters started to be called the "butterflies."

About Minou Mirabal

She was born in the town of Ojo de Agua in 1956. Known as Minou, Minerva Josefina Tavárez Mirabal in her full name, is a philologist, professor, and politician in the Dominican Republic.

She served as deputy for the National District in the lower House for three terms from 2002 until 2016; served as deputy foreign minister from 1996 to 2000.

She was the presidential nominee of both the Alliance for Democracy and Democratic Choice parties for the 2016 Dominican Republic general election.

From 2002 until 2016 she held several directive positions at Parliamentarians for Global Action. She presided the International Council from 2012 until 2014, and until 2016 she was President of the Executive Board.

Since 2019, she is the Vicepresident of the Party Alianza País. She is the co-founder and director of the Memory Museum Mirabal Sisters. She is a member of the Leaders Network of Michelle Bachelet's Foundation Horizonte Ciudadano. In June 2020, Tavarez was elected by the Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court as the Latin American and Caribbean seat holder at the Board of Direction of the Trust Fund for Victims of crimes under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. In December 2021, she was re-elected by the Assembly for a second term of 3 years in the GRULAC seat of the Board and was elected by the Board of Directors as its Chairperson for the period 2021-2024.

Her father was killed by "Triumvirate" meaning the three members of the junta that overthrew the legitimate Juan Bosch government in 1963. Minou was left an orphan at the age of 7. Her family is remembered as "martyrs" and "national heroes." She was brought up by her grandfather who also brought up the children of other sisters killed.

(EMK/PE)