Zahra Eshraghi
Iranian activist (born 1964)
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Zahra Eshraghi Khomeini (Persian: زهرا اشراقی, romanized: Zahrâ Eshrâqi) (born 1964) is an Iranian activist and former government official.
Sedigheh Khomeini (mother)
Zahra Eshraghi | |
|---|---|
| زهرا اشراقی | |
| |
| Born | 1964 (age 61–62) |
| Spouse | Mohammad Reza Khatami |
| Children | Alireza, Fatemeh[1] |
| Parent(s) | Shahab od-Din Eshraghi (father) Sedigheh Khomeini (mother) |
| Relatives | Ruhollah Khomeini (grandfather) Khadijeh Saqafi (grandmother) |
Early life and education
Eshraghi was born in 1964. She is the granddaughter of Ayatollah Khomeini.[2] She is a philosophy graduate.[3]
Views
Zahra Eshraghi wants the wearing of headscarves to no longer be compulsory. She believes that: "Our (Iran's) constitution still says that the man is the boss and the woman is a loyal wife who sacrifices herself for her family. But society here has changed, especially in the last 10 years. If my grandfather were here now, I am sure he would have had very different ideas."[4]
She also stated "The constitution my grandfather approved says that only a man can be president... We would like to change the wording from 'man' to 'anyone'. But discrimination here is not just in the constitution. As a woman, if I want to get a passport to leave the country, have surgery, even breathe almost, I must have permission from my husband."[4]
Personal life
In 1983, Eshraghi married Mohammad-Reza Khatami, former head of the Islamic Iran Participation Front, the main reformist party in Iran and younger brother of former president Mohammad Khatami.[5]
Politics
In 2004, Eshraghi was blocked from running for parliament by the Guardian council, which vets the parliamentary candidates.[6][7]