Rebecca Lee
November 14, 2022
Iran is a country of
contradictions. It possesses intense natural beauty, deep cultural and
historical roots, and a formidable people from a kaleidoscope of ethnic
origins. For 43 years, Iran has been under theocratic rule, led by a supreme
leader and a power structure that has instilled fear in the very people it
governs and that has ostracised the country from the global community.
According to
Melicka Jamshidabadi, a highly successful filmmaker and photographer, women
have been denied freedom of dress, expression, and equal rights before a court
of law, as well as the ability to hold senior decision-making authority in the
government or judiciary. Despite this, young Iranian women are reported to have
the highest literacy rate in the Middle East, with a high percentage of
university graduates. They have one of the highest percentages of university
graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics when compared
with other countries.