Iranian-American journalist who, for over 20 years, has covered all sorts of wars and uprisings across the Middle East, in places like Iran, Afghanistan, Israel, the West Bank, Turkey, Syria, and more. She is the United Nations Bureau chief for the New York Times and was a senior writer and war correspondent for the Wall Street Journal for 17 years, based in the Middle East.
Journalist and poet Asieh Amini is a leading voice in the campaign to end stoning and juvenile executions in Iran. Targeted by the state for her reporting and activism, she fled Iran in 2009, but continues to fight against censorship and other human rights abuses in the country.
Regent of most of Jibal during the minority of her son, Majd al-Dawla (r. 997–1029), and served as de facto ruler during his reign.
Queen of the Massagetae who defeated and killed Cyrus the Great
As the first internationally famous Iranian woman artist, Monir opened the way for others to follow, although it is difficult to gauge her precise influence on any individual artist. She was the first Iranian woman to have a museum in Tehran dedicated exclusively to her work, and the first Iranian artist of any kind to have a solo exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum (in 2015).
Feminist activist and journalist Sediqeh Dowlatabadi was a pioneering figures in the Persian women’s movement who believed in the advancement of women through education.
Sheema Kalbasi is an Iranian American poet, writer, filmmaker and activist for women’s rights, minorities’ rights, children’s rights, human rights and refugees’ rights. Her work discusses these topics as well as other women’s issues, war, refugees, Sharia Law and freedom of expression. In additon to her artistic work, Sheema taught refugee children and worked for the UNHCR and the Center for Refugees in Pakistan, and UNA Denmark. Her poems have been anthologized and translated into more than 20 languages.
Mastoureh Afshar was an Iranian intellectual, feminist, and leading figure in Iran’s women’s rights movement.