List of famous Persian women

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The term Persian women or Iranian women are sometimes used interchangeably, but refer to women of Iran (which was called Persia until 1935) and Iranian cultural continent.

Notice: As one may have various contributions to different areas, one name may be included several times under different categories.

Contents 1 Nobel laureates and nominees 2 Scientists and Engineers 3 Women in Human sciences 4 Authors and poets 5 Artists 6 Sport 7 Political 8 Royalty 9 Feminist activists and other activists 10 In the news 11 Others 12 Images of famous Iranian women 13 See also 14 External links

[edit] Nobel laureates and nominees

• Shirin Ebadi, 2003 Nobel Laureate. (Peace)
• Simin Behbahani, 1997 Nobel prize Nominee. (Literature)

[edit] Scientists and Engineers

• Fariba Adelkhah, Director of Research at Centre for International Studies and Research, France. [1]
• Anousheh Ansari, first female space tourist, leading telecommunication entrepreneur, and namesake of the X Prize
• Didar Zowghi, (Didar Noroozi-Iranzad), Associate Professor, Director of Software Engineering Unit, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia, [2]
• Mina Bissell, Director of UC Berkeley Life Sciences Division. [3]
• Mariam Kamkar, Head of the Department of Computer and Information Science, Linköpings Universitet, Sweden. [4]
• Fariba Moghaddam, Professor, School of Engineering, EPFA, Switzerland.
• Minoo Mohraz The nation's top AIDS expert and chairman of the Iranian AIDS Research Center at the University of Tehran
• Patricia L. Mokhtarian, Associate Director, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis. [5]
• Farshid Moussavi, world leader in Architectural Engineering
• Simin Nikbin Meydani, Senior Scientist and Director at Tufts University. [6]
• Manijeh Razeghi, Director, Center for Quantum Devices, Northwestern University. [7]
• Reihaneh Safavi-Naini, cryptographer, professor of computer science, and head of Telecommunications and Information Technology Research Institute at University of Wollongong
• Nahid Shahmehri, Director of the Laboratory for Intelligent Information, Linköpings Universitet, Sweden. [8]
• Azadeh Tabazadeh, Stanford University scientist from NASA. [9] Article about her in TIME magazine
• Saba Valadkhan, American Association for the Advancement of Science Young scientist award
• Zahra Zakeri, Professor of Biology and President of the International Cell Death Society
• Maryam Alavi, Chairperson and professor of information systems, University of Maryland
• Simin Pakzad, Professor of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University
• Simin Meydani, Professor of Nutrition and Immunology at Tufts University
• Simin Nadjm-Tehrani, Associate Professor, Dept of Computer and Information Science, Linköpings universitet
• Azadeh Tabazadeh, Professor of Geophysics, Stanford University
• Sima Bagheri Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Nayer Nikpoor, Staff Physician and instructor of Radiology, Harvard Medical School.
• Fatemeh Zahedi or (Maryam Zahedi), Distinguished Professor, Management Information Systems, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Fatemeh Milani American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and a fellow of the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine.
• Mahpareh Mostoufizadeh, Vice President, Board of Directors of Iranian-American Medical Association
• Fereshteh Motamedi, Professor of Physiology and Permanent member, Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences.
• Maryam Sadri,Vice President In Charge of Operation, Specialty Laboratories, Santa Clarita, California.
• Fattaneh Tavassoli Director of Women's Health Program GYN and Breast Pathology and Professor of Pathology, Yale University.
• Parvin Ganjei-Azar, Professor of Pathology, Director of Cytopathology, University of Miami School of Medicine
• Neda Jansepar, Surveyor, R&D Division, Indian Register of Shipping, Mumbai, India.(Amongst the first women Naval Architects from Sharif University, Tehran)

[edit] Women in Human sciences

• Janet Afary, historian.
• Shirin Ebadi, lawyer and lecturer at Tehran University (2003 Nobel Laureate).
• Mehrangiz Kar, lawyer, fellow at Harvard University.
• Jaleh Amouzgar, Iranologist, Professor of Tehran University.
• Lady Amin (Banoo Amin), Jurisprudent and Theologian.
• Elaheh Koulaei, Professor of Political sciences, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Tehran University
• Badrozzaman Gharib, Professor of linguistics and literature and permanent member of APLL
• Fatemeh Keshavarz-Karamustafa, Chair of the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literature, Professor of Persian and Comparative Literature, Washington University in St. Louis

[edit] Authors and poets

• Ghazaleh Alizadeh, novelist
• Noushin Amani, Poet ( 1956-1994 )
• Mahshid Amirshahi, novelist
• Mastoureh Ardalan, poet
• Simin Behbahani, poet and 1997 Nobel prize nominee.
• Vida Kashizadeh, poet, writer, musician, composer.
• Simin Daneshvar, novelist
• Parvin E'tesami, poet (classical)
• Forough Farrokhzad, poet (modern)
• Rabe'e Ghazdari, poet
• Roya Hakakian, writer/poet
• Sholeh Wolpé, poet
• Sheema Kalbasi, poet
• Maryam Hooleh, poet
• Susan Atefat Peckham, poet
• Justine Harun-Mahdavi, German-Iranian writer.
• Shams Kasma'i, the first poet to compose free verse (early 20th century)

• Mahsati, medieval poet
• Shokooh Mirzadegi, novelist
• Azadeh Moaveni, writer and journalist
• Shahrnoush Parsipour, novelist
• Banafsheh Pezeshk, Author
• Zoya Pirzad, novelist and winner of Hushang Golshiri Award
• Tahereh Qorrat Al-'Ayn, poet, philosopher and theologian and seventeenth disciple or Letter of the Living of the Báb (mid 19th century)
• Moniru Ravanipour, novelist
• Mahasti Shahrokhi, novelist
• Fatemeh Sayyah, One of the foremost Iranian literary critics and comparative literature theorist (1902-1947)
• Farzaneh Taheri, critic and translator
• Goli Tarraqi, novelist

[edit] Artists

• Lily Afshar, world class guitarist.
• Vida Kashizadeh, musician, composer, singer, poet, writer.
• Sholeh Kashizadeh, Artist.
• Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Actress.
• Shohreh Aghdashloo, Actress. Nominated for an Oscar in, "The House of Sand and Fog" (2003).
• Pegah Ahangarani, actress, winner of Best Actress Award, the 23rd Cairo International Film Festival.
• Taraneh Alidoosti, winner of Best actress award, Locarno International Film festival, awarded in August 2002
• Mary Apick, actress, winner of Best actress award (1977)
• Leila Arab, musician
• Rakhshan Bani-Etemad, director
• Soosan Aslani, Master of Persian classical music
• Arfa Atrai, Santur musician and writer
• Catherine Bell, Actress, JAG (Half).
• Sima Bina, singer.
• Shiva Boloorian, Actress and Play Director
• Nazanin Boniadi, Actress.
• Parisa DeFaie,Actress.
• Iran Darrudi, Artist
• Delkash, singer.
• Nastaran Dibai, Television Writer/Producer
• Zahra Dowlatabadi, animator, producer and director
• Sepideh Farsi, director
• Shohreh Solati, singer
• Leila Forouhar, singer
• Googoosh, singer
• Azita Hajian, actress, winner of Crystal Simorgh for the Best Actress, the 17th Fajr International Film Festival.
• Leila Hatami, Best actress award, Locarno International Film festival and Montreal World Film Festival(2002).
• Monika Jalili, Persian vocalist of Dutch-German origin
• Ghashang Kamkar, musician
• Roya Kamyabfar, Jewellery designer
• Niki Karimi, celebrated actress and director
• Merila Zarei, award-winning actress
• Maryam Keshavarz, director
• Shokouh Mahde-Olia, celebrated actress.
• Hana Makhmalbaf, director
• Samira Makhmalbaf, director.
• Narmin Nazmi, stage designer.
• Yassamin Maleknasr, director
• Marzieh, singer.
• Soosan Matloobi, Master of Persian classical music
• Masoomeh Mehr-Ali, Master of Persian classical music
• Tahmineh Milani, renowed feminist filmmaker
• Nooshafarin, singer.
• Mahin Oskouei first Iranian female film director
• Mahaia Petrosian, celebrated actress.
• Laleh Pourkarim, singer
• Parisa, singer.
• Mitra Rahbar, poet, vocalist and dancer
• Pouran Rakhshandeh, director
• Susan Roshan,singer.
• Maral Salmassi, German electronic music producer and record label owner
• Shakila, singer, winner of Persian academy award.
• Bahar Soomekh, Actress (Crash and Saw III)
• Tamara Stronach, who plays the Childlike Empress in the The Neverending Story.
• Lailaw Taherzadeh, Artist, Art Institute of Chicago . Known as big "L" girl
• Qamar ol-Molouk Vaziri, Lady of Persian music.
• Fatemeh Vaezi, Master of Persian classical music
• Pari Zangeneh, singer
• Mahla Zamani, Iranian fashion designer; expert on traditional Iranian dressings
• Sarah Shahi, actress
• Mokarrameh Ghanbari, painter

[edit] Sport

• Laleh Seddigh
• Aravane Rezai, tennis player
• Atousa Pour-Kashian

[edit] Political

• Azar Majedi, Communist activist and politician.
• Masoumeh Ebtekar, Iranian Vice President.
• Goli Ameri, Republican politician.
• Christiane Amanpour, CNN's chief international correspondent.
• Fatemeh Haghighatjou, former Member of Parliament.
• Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, former Member of Parliament and daughter of Hashemi Rafsanjani.
• Elaheh Koulaei, former Member of Parliament and Professor of political sciences
• Maryam Rajavi, opposition leader, alleged president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
• Farah Karimi, Iranian female Dutch Member of Parliament.[10]
• Shahla Habibi
• Nasrin Soltankhah
• Fatemeh Javadi
• Nafiseh Fayyazbakhsh, head of the Majlis Women's Faction

[edit] Royalty

• Anahita, a Goddess in Persian mythology.
• Roxana, Princess. (Rakhshan or Rakhshaneh)
• Purandokht, Sasanian crown princess and King!, Both male and female rulers during Sasanian era would be entitled KING of the Kings( SHAHANSHAH ) (Sasanian = Sassanid dynasty)
• Azarmedukht, Sasanian crown princess and King of Kings (Shahanshah). (Sasanian = Sassanid dynasty)
• Gordafarid, heroine.
• Shahr-banu, Princess.
• Nur Jehan, wife of Mughal Emperor Jehangir
• Seyyedeh Khatun, ruler.
• Gauhar Shad, Queen.
• Soraya Esfandiary Bakhtiari, former Queen.
• Ashraf Pahlavi, Princess.
• Farah Pahlavi, Empress (Mohammad Reza Shah's wife).
• Leila Pahlavi, Princess.
• Mumtaz Mahal, Wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan and inspiration for the Taj Mahal.

[edit] Feminist activists and other activists

• Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Miss World 1st runner up 2003, Miss Canada 2003, Human Rights Activist, Singer/Songwriter
• Tooba Azmoodeh, establisher of thesecond girls school in Iran, and receiver of the culture rosette.
• Asiyeh Amini, journalist, human rights activist.
• Bibi Khatoon Astarabadi, author and pioneer of Persian women's movement in modern Iran
• Sediqeh Dowlatabadi, author and pioneer of Persian women's movement in modern Iran
• Shirin Ebadi, human rights lawyer and judge, 2003 Nobel Laureate
• Shiva Dolatabadi, Psychology Proff. ,and Children's Rights Activist.
• Shahla Lahiji, human right activist and one of the pioneers of Persian women's movement
• Shahla Sherkat, editor and one of the pioneers of women's movement in contemporary Iran
• Mehrangiz Kar, human rights lawyer and winner of the Ludovic Trarieux International Human Rights Prize
• Shadi Sadr, feminist activist,lawyer,journalist
• Zahra Eshraghi, feminist activist
• Elaheh Koulaei
• Masih Alinejad , parliamentary journalist expelled from Majlis
• Pari Esfandiari
• Zahra Kazemi, slain political photographer.
• Azam Taleghani
• Roya Karimi
• Fariba Davoudi Mohajer
• Hengameh Shahidi
• Badrossadat Mofidi
• Jila Bani Yaqoub
• Banafsheh Sam-Gis
• Lily Farhadpour
• Fereshteh Ghazi
• Nahid Mousavi
• Elham Afroutan
• Marjane Satrapi, activist and graphic novelist
• Golbarg Bashi, feminist academic and activist
• Massoumeh Shafi'ei (Akbar Ganji's wife), activist
• Susan Shariati, activist and daughter of Ali Shariati
• Azar Nafisi, activist and novelist
• Firoozeh Mohajer
• Mansooreh Ettehadieh
• Mahboubeh Abbas-Gholizadeh
• Marziyeh Mortazi Langroodi
• Roya Hakakian, Iranian-Jewish human right activist and author
• Soraya Sepahpour, political analyst and writer

[edit] In the news

• Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Miss World 1st runner up 2003, Miss Canada 2003, Human Rights Activist, Singer/Songwriter
• Ramona Amiri, Miss World Canada 2005.[11]
• Rudi Bakhtiar, TV news anchor.
• Minu Barati , wife of Joschka Fischer, the German ex-Foreign Minister.[12]
• Ladan and Laleh Bijani, conjoined twins.
• Masoumeh Bolaghi, first Iranian female bus driver
• Hammasa Kohistani, Miss England 2005. (Tajik-Afghanistani)
• Yasmin Le Bon, Supermodel.
• Lily Mazahery, Lawyer, International Human Rights Activist, President of the Legal Rights Institute. [13]
• Behnaz Mozakka, Iranian woman who died in 2005 London bombing.
• Mandana Naderian, German TV hostess.[14]
• Nazanin, sentenced to hanging for alleged self-defence
• Shaghayegh (Cluadia Lynx), Iranian born model, actress and singer.
• Shermine Shahrivar, Miss Europe 2005.[15]

[edit] Others

• Esther of the Purim Story
• Shahrazad of 1001 Nights
• Táhirih
• Forokhrou Parsa, doctor and former Minister of Education, executed during the Iranian Revolution.
• Zahra Rahnavard, the first female chancellor of University after revolution
• Parisa Khosravi, Senior Vice President and Managing Editor, International Newsgathering
• Parvaneh Eskandari Dariush Forouhar's wife
• Delaram G. T. , Famous lyrics collector, Selected symbol of Persian society
• Sona Babai, oldest naturalized Iranian American

[edit] Images of famous Iranian women