Family law in contemporary Iran: Women's Rights Activism and Shari'a

by Marianne Bøe

Overview

Passed into law over a decade before the Revolution, the Family Protection Law quickly drew the ire of the conservative clergy and the Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979. In fact, it was one of the first laws to be rescinded following the revolution. The law was hardly a surprising target, however, since women's status in Iran was then - and continues now to be - a central concern of Iranian political leaders, media commentators, and international observers alike. Taking up the issue of women's status in a modern context, Marianne Boe offers a nuanced view of how women's rights activists assert their rights within an Islamic context by weaving together religious and historical texts and narratives. Through Her substantial fieldwork and novel analysis, Boe undermines both the traditional view of 'Islamic Feminism' as monolithic and clears a path to a new understanding of the role of women's rights activists in shaping and synthesizing debates on the shari'a, women's rights and family law. As such, this book is essential for anyone studying family law and the role of women in contemporary Iran.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780857737632
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	01/20/2015
Series:	International Library of Iranian Studies
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	264
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Marianne Boe is an historian of religion who received her PhD in the Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion and the Centre for Women's and Gender Studies, University of Bergen. She has published widely on women's issues and religion, as well as on Muslim family law and Islam

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Family Protection Bill

Chapter 2: Women's Rights Activism and Family Law Debates in Iran, 1900-present

Chapter 3: Conceptions of Shari'a and Family Law

Chapter 4: Conceptions of Dower, Polygyny and Temporary Marriage

Chapter 5: Shifting Paradigms on Gender and Sexuality in Iran

Chapter 6: Debating and Authenticating Conceptions of Family Law