Veiled Politics
Zephie Begolo discusses the symbolic power of the veil in Iranian politics, and its consequences for women, before and during the Islamic Revolution.
On May 19th 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, speaking to a crowd marking the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad’s daughter, declared that henceforth Iranian Women’s Day would be celebrated on this date. It was because of Iran’s women, clad in their black chadors, that men poured into the streets to topple Mohammad Reza Shah. The chador, a full-length, typically black garment that covers a woman’s body from head to foot, has become one of the most potent symbols of the Islamic movement, serving as an almost poetic metaphor for the defences that closed around Iran in the wake of the Revolution.
To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5.
Start my trial subscription now
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.
