The rise of Zahra Rahnavard
The Next First Couple of Iran?
Ever since the official start of the Iranian Presidential Campaign, I have been increasingly fascinated by the role Zahra Rahnavard has played. After reading a profile of her in the Financial Times and then a byline in a local California paper by the Associated Press reporter in Tehran, I wanted to understand more about her.
The typical view of Moslem Women in the West has been one of being subservient. With Iranian women, that's not the case. Iranian women are strong-willed and have a mind of their own. This is ever more so by their insistence to carry their maiden name. Mrs. Rahnavard is the wife of the Former Prime Minister, Mir Hossein Mossavi, who is the leading challenger to the current incumbent. She has a Ph.D. in Political Science, has served as Chancellor of one of the leading Universities in Iran and is the author of 15 books. She was sidelined when idiotnejad led a campaign to "retire" professors and sideline those who did not agree with Government policy.
I found it especially interesting that she was a follower of the modern Islamic thinker and philospher Ali Shariati. I had read some of Shariati's work. Shariati was a vocal opponent of the Islam that was espoused by the conservative clergy who ended up prevailing in Iran through the thinking of the Ayatollah Khomeini. Mrs. Rahnavard has been a vocal advocate for women's rights and has apparently been leading the outreach efforts to the young. She has also been asking pointed questions about why no women were approved to stand in the elections. These are courageous questions that I wonder if the Regime is ready to tolerate. This "dynamic duo" has a mountain to climb, though. It is fascinating to watch, though.
Mike Pouraryan
