Mehrangiz Manouchehrian (1906 – 5 July 2000) was an Iranian lawyer, musician, feminist, and appointed Senator.
She was involved in the
Women's Organization of Iran. She was involved in drafting the
Family Protection Act - a set of laws extending women's rights in marriage.
Legacy
Manouchehrian's contribution to an improvement of women's rights in Iran are acknowledged. A book about her life "Senator: the Work of Senator Mehrangiz Manouchehrian in the Struggle for Legal Rights for Women" won the
Latifeh Yarshater Book Award in 2004.
Career
Manouchehrian was both Iran's first female lawyer and Iran's first female Senator. During her time as a Senator she was crucial in extending women's rights. Using her experience as a lawyer, she drew up the
Family Protection Act, which granted women family rights. A number of elements in the proposed Act were picked out and greatly exaggerated by critics. This led to the Act becoming subject to great public debate and discussion in the media. Some members of the country's clergy claimed that the Act was not compatible with Islam, espoused loose moral standards and even considered publicly denouncing Manouchehrian as a heretic. Fearing for her safety, Manouchehrian fled Tehran for some time. The Act was later repealed following the 1979
Islamic Revolution
The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dyna ...
.
Manouchehrian later resigned her seat in the Senate following a dispute with the Prime Minister Jafar Sharif-Emami. After Sharif-Emami addressed her in a rude manner during a parliamentary debate, he visited her home and apologised privately. However, Manouchehrian demanded a public apology which he refused to deliver. Consequently, Manouchehrian resigned.
For her work in promoting women's rights, she was awarded the
United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights in 1968.
Manouchehrian was also appointed a member of the central council of the
Women's Organisation of Iran.
See also
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List of first women lawyers and judges in Asia
This is a list of the first women lawyers and judges in Asia. It includes the year in which the women were admitted to practice law (in parentheses). Also included are the first women in their country to achieve a certain distinction such as obtain ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Manouchehrian, Mehrangi
Iranian women lawyers
Iranian women's rights activists
20th-century Iranian women politicians
20th-century Iranian politicians
1906 births
2000 deaths
20th-century women lawyers
20th-century Iranian lawyers