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A progressive Iranian women's rights movement has slipped through the cracks of mainstream scholarship. In the 1960s, Iranian women rallied for progressive family law reforms; their efforts culminated in the Family Protection Law of 1967. This note provides an alternative view of the women's rights movement in the Middle East and highlights how a social movement gave rise to comprehensive and progressive family law reform. Over the last century, Iran has been under authoritarian rule, first in the form of a monarchy and now in a theocracy. In spite of this, Iranian women have been steadfast in the fight for freedom. In 2022, Iranian women of all ages, faiths, and socioeconomic backgrounds have led an unprecedented uprising against their government. For the first time since 1979, there is hope for democracy in Iran. This note shines a light on the road to restoring women's rights in Iran.
Neeki Memarzadeh, New Perspectives on Iran: The Path to Progressive Family Law Before the Islamic Revolution, 33 Duke Journal of Comparative & International Law 97-119 (2023)
Available at: https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/djcil/vol33/iss1/3