Celebrating iranian women: Sadiqeh dolatabadi

Sadiqeh Dolatabadi was born in 1882 in Isfahan, Iran. Considered one of the pioneers of the Iranian women’s rights movement, she came from an old and established family. She started her education in Farsi and Arabic and later in life, attended Paris’ Sorbonne University, earning a degree in Education.
In 1917, she founded the first girl school in Isfahan called “Maktab-e Shariat.” But the school was attacked by conservatives and clerics and was finally closed down, and she was thrown in jail. Two years later, she established the Society of Women of Isfahan and another school for girls who came from poverty-stricken families called “Om-ol Modaras” which ultimately had a very positive impact on women’s education.

Dolatabadi was the founder of several publications including Women’s Voice which was banned by authorities. Her magazine only accepted submissions from women and most of its readers were women. In her magazine, she was highly critical of the veil and discussed controversial topics such as the rights of women to education and economic independence. When Reza Shah banned the veil in 1936, Sadiqeh Dolatabadi became an active supporter of the reform.

Sadiqeh Dolatabadi died in July 30, 1961 at the age of 80. In her will she proclaimed: “I will never forgive women who visit my grave veiled.”
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After the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Islamic vigilantes demolished her tomb, and the tombs of her father and brother, who, although men of religion, had supported her activities.

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Sources:

• "Iranian Personalities: Sediqeh Dowlatabadi. A feminists and publicist on Iranian women's emancipation." Iranian Chamber Society.
• "Sediqeh Dowlatabadi." Wikipedia. CC BY SA 3.0.
• Jacobsen, Scott. "The Mother of Iranian Feminism: Sediqeh Dowlatabadi." Conatus News. Apr 5, 2017.