The Iranian Women's Movement: A Conversation with Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani

Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, a member of a family long considered a pillar of the Islamic Republic of Iran, became a prisoner of conscience in that regime and is now a defender of equal rights for women—one of the many fascinating transformations in Iran in recent years. She discusses the evolution and future of the women’s rights movement in Iran. The conversation will be live-translated from Persian/Farsi to English. An active Iranian women’s rights activist, Ms. Rafsanjani was the founder and publisher of Zan—the first publication after the 1979 revolution dedicated to the cause of women—and is acclaimed for her role in preserving women’s athletics from the onslaught of conservative clergy. She earned a Master of Laws degree in international human rights from Birmingham City University. She also served as a member of the Iranian parliament from 1996 to 2000. This event is part of the ongoing conversation on the women’s movement in Iran that has been a part of the Iranian Studies Program since its inception. Conversations with Simin Behbahani, Ziba Mir-Hossaini, Farzaneh Milani, Shahrnush Parsipur, Mahshid Amirshahy, Masih Alinejad, and Jila Baniyaghoob, are just a few of the many voices we have hosted over the years. This important subject will continue to be a part of our programming.