Jewels of Allah : The Untold Story of Women in Iran

International Book Award in Women's Issues

Eric Hoffer Award for Best Culture Book

Eric Hoffer Award for Best Book Cover

Eric Hoffer Award for Best Debut Author

Indie Book Award for Historical Nonfiction

Indie Book Award for Women's Issues

ForeWord INDIEFAB Award for Womens Studies

Best Book Award for Womens Issues

The popular narrative about womens lives in Iran over the last forty years goes something like this:

During the Pahlavi Monarchy, women were on an upward trajectory. In a nation on the cusp of modernity, women actively participated. They were given the right to vote and free to be in public without veils. They wore miniskirts on university campuses. Then came the Islamic Revolution in 1979, with Ayatollah Khomeini at the helm. The burgeoning freedoms for women were extinguished. The veil was required and institutions were segregated by gender. The Islamic Republic had thus achieved its goal of resurrecting the image of the traditional Muslim woman.

The problem with popular narratives is that, despite their convenient half-truths, the real story is more complicated, unexpected, and less tidy.

Inspired by author Nina Ansarys scholarly journey, Jewels of Allah is a provocative roller coaster ride that shatters the stereotypical assumptions and the often misunderstood story of women in Iran today. Highlighting many courageous female leaders and advocates throughout Irans history, the book illuminates the unanticipated consequences of the Islamic Revolution and the unexpected twists and turns leading to a full-blown feminist movement within a post-revolutionary patriarchal society.

Jewels of Allah is dedicated to every individual oppressed by discriminatory ideology. 100% of all proceeds from the sale of the book will go to charitable organizations and institutions, with the primary recipient being the OMID Foundation, a 501(c)(3) registered organization that has been empowering disadvantaged young women for over 10 years. For more information on the OMID Foundation, please visit the omidfoundation.com.