Iran is one of the oldest civilizations in history, dating back to 4000 B.C.E. At one point in history, the Persian Empire was a leading superpower. From the 15th century until the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Iran was a monarchy. The popular uprising against [Page 768]the shah culminated in the Islamic Republic and rule by the Ayatollah Khomeini. Iran is home to 72 million people, 66 percent of whom are under the age of 30. Women have a rich history of power and influence in Iran, but the institutionalization of conservative Islam has severely restricted women and much of their status and rights have been rescinded. However, Iranian women continue to draw on their history and culture to fight for equal rights.

Throughout Iranian ...