Islamic Fundamentalism, Feminism, and Gender Inequality in Iran Under Khomeini

The rise of Islamic fundamentalist movements in the Islamic world and their obsession with women’s roles has given rise to the question of the relationship between Islam and women’s inferior position. There is little doubt that Iranian women have been one of the major losers of the 1979 Iranian revolution. Islamic fundamentalists in Iran created an extremely violent misogynist oppressive regime. Islamic fundamentalists in Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt and elsewhere have promoted misogynist ethos and policies. Is Islam, as a religion, against the equality of men and women? Is Islamism, that is, Islam as a political ideology, against the equality of women? In this book, utilizing the case of Iran under Khomeini, the author analyzes the relationship between Islam, Islamic fundamentalism and gender inequality.