List of Iranian women

Notice: "As one person may have contributed to more than one field, they can be categorized in multiple areas."

Nobel laureates and nominees

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

Scientists and Engineers

* Fariba Adelkhah, Director of Research at Centre for International Studies and Research, France. [http://www.ceri-sciencespo.com/cherlist/adelkhah.htm]
* Anousheh Ansari, First female space tourist, leading telecommunication entrepreneur, and namesake of the X Prize
* Mina Bissell, Director of UC Berkeley Life Sciences Division. [http://www.asip.org/mtgs/EB03/Bissell.htm]
* Mariam Kamkar, Head of Computer and Information Science Department, Linköpings Universitet, Sweden. [http://www.ida.liu.se/~marka/]
* Majgan Mahjoub, Director of Zooarchaeology Research Center, National Museum of Iran, researcher at museum of natural history at Paris. [http://geocities.com/DonkeyConference/mashkourvila2005.html]
* Patricia L. Mokhtarian, Associate Director, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis. [http://cee.engr.ucdavis.edu/faculty/mokhtarian/Default.htm]
* Simin Nikbin Meydani, Senior Scientist and Director at Tufts University. [http://hnrc.tufts.edu/scientists/people/smeydani.php]
* Manijeh Razeghi, Director, Center for Quantum Devices, Northwestern University. [http://www.ece.northwestern.edu/~razeghi/]
* Reihaneh Safavi-Naini, Cryptographer, professor of computer science, and head of [http://www.titr.uow.edu.au/ Telecommunications and Information Technology Research Institute] at University of Wollongong
* Nahid Shahmehri, Director of the Laboratory for Intelligent Information, Linköpings Universitet, Sweden. [http://www.ida.liu.se/labs/iislab/people/nahsh/]
* Azadeh Tabazadeh, Stanford University scientist from NASA. [http://www.agu.org/inside/awards/bios/tabazadeh_azadeh.html] [http://www.irandokht.com/editorial/index4.php?area=wor&sectionID=53&editorialID=848 Article about her in TIME magazine]
* Saba Valadkhan, American Association for the Advancement of Science Young scientist award
* Maryam Mirzakhani, Mathematician
* Roya Maboudian, Professor of Chemical Engineering at UC Berkeley
* Mina Farr, Founder, President and Chief Technology Officer of Vivid Medical Inc. holder of [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-adv.htm&r=0&p=1&f=S&l=50&Query=in/mina+AND+in/farr&d=PTXT 23 U.S. and International patents in Optics] , [http://www.hpl.hp.com/news/2002/jan-mar/dvdrw.html Hewlett-Packard DVD+RW] , [http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/products/index.aspx Intuitive Surgical da Vinci]
* Shirin Dehghan, CEO of Arieso, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6111090.stm winner of the 2006 Blackberry Women and Technology Awards]

Academics

* Janet Afary, Historian.
* Shirin Ebadi, Lawyer, 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
* Fatemeh Keshavarz-Karamustafa, Chair of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literature Department, Professor of Persian and Comparative Literature, Washington University in St. Louis
* Camila Batmanghelidjh, Psychotherapist.
* Farideh Farhi, Independent Scholar and an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at University of Hawai'i, Mānoa
* Farzaneh Milani, Director of Studies in Women and Gender and Professor of Persian and Women Studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA [http://www.virginia.edu/womenstudies/people/milani.html]
* Nayereh Tohidi, Professor and Chair of the Women's Studies Department at California State University, Northridge and Research Associate at the Center for Near Eastern Studies at UCLA, USA [http://www.csun.edu/~ws20500/Faculty-Webpage_Tohidi.htm]
* Taiebeh Hosseinali, Professor and Director of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, United States.
*noosheen shahandeh,
* Afsaneh Najmabadi, Professor of History and of Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Harvard University.
* Laudan Nooshin, Musicologist and Senior Lecturer at City University of London [http://www.city.ac.uk/music/staff/laudan.html]
*Golbarg Bashi
* Fariba Zarinebaf, Lecturer and Iran expert in the Corcoran Department of History at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA [http://www.virginia.edu/history/user/57]
* Noushafarin Ansari, Professor at University Of Tehran, Secretary General of Children's Book Council Of Iran
* Simin Karimi, Professor of Linguistics, University of Arizona [http://www.u.arizona.edu/~karimi]
* Saba Safdar, Asst. Professor of Psychology University of Guelph, Chair -International and Cross-Cultural section Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)
* Parinaz Parhizi, Lecturer at the Law Faculty of Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, winner of the DAAD Prize for best students, journalist in German and Switzerland's Newspapers, Cooperation with ZDF(Second German Television).

Authors and poets

* Mahnaz Afkhami, Writer
* Sarah Afshar, Writer
* Mana Aghaee, poet and bibliographer
* Mina Assadi, Poet and author, winner of the Hellman/Hammett awards (human Rights Watch) in New York in the year of 1996
* Sanaz Nikaein, Poet, "Poetic Achievement Of The Year Award 2000", Human Rights Activist
* Mahshid Amirshahi, Novelist
* Farzaneh Aghaeipour, Playwright and novelist
* Simin Behbahani, Poet and 1997 Nobel prize nominee.
* Simin Daneshvar, Academic, novelist and translator of literary texts from several languages into Persian
* Parvin E'tesami, Poet (classical)
* Forough Farrokhzad, Poet (modern)
* Rabe'e Ghazdari, Poet
* Saideh Ghods, Writer
* Roya Hakakian, Writer and poet
* Maryam Hooleh, Poet and winner of PEN PRISE(Free state's writer,2003-2004),Stockholm's guest.
* Justine Harun-Mahdavi, German-Iranian writer.
*Rosie Malek-Yonan, Author, actor and director. Author of [http://www.thecrimsonfield.com "THE CRIMSON FIELD"]
* Mahsati, Medieval poet
* Azadeh Moaveni, Writer and journalist
* Azar Nafisi, writer, "Reading Lolita in Tehran"
* Gina B. Nahai, writer, "Moonlight on the Avenue of Faith," "Caspian Rain"
* Shahrnush Parsipur, Novelist
* Zoya Pirzad, Novelist and winner of "Hushang Golshiri Award"
* Tahereh Qorrat Al-'Ayn, Poet, philosopher and theologist; Seventeenth disciple or Letter of the Living of the Báb (mid 19th century)
* Mahasti Shahrokhi, Novelist
* Farzaneh Khojandi, Tajik poet
* Golrokhsar Safi Eva, National poet of Tajikistan
* Moniru Ravanipur, Writer
* Shokooh Mirzadegi, Novelist, poet and social reformer
* Rira Abbasi, Author and poet, and the initiator of International Festival of Peace Poetry in Iran
* Farnoosh Moshiri, Novelist, www.farnooshmoshiri.net

Visual Art

* Clara Abkar, Miniature Painter
* Iran Darrudi, Painter
* Mokarrameh Ghanbari, Painter
* Mansooreh Hosseini Painter
* Noreen Motamed, Painter
* Guity Novin, Painter, Graphic artist and the founder of Transpressionism movement in painting
* Farah Notash Painter
* Pantea Rahmani, Painter, Sculptor
* Behjat Sadr Painter
* Lilit Terian Sculptor
* Zohreh Eskandari [http://www.amneheskandari.com] Visual Art
* Maryam Eskandari [http://www.maryameskandari.com] Sculptor

Artists

* Darya Bayat, Pianist, International Award winner of Excellence, Composer, Poet and Human Rights Activist.
*Baran Kosari,25th fajr film festival awards winner
* Mahnaz Afshar, Actress.
* Lily Afshar, World class guitarist
* Sarah Afshar, Musician
* Nadia Bjorlin, Actress
* Hengameh Mofid, Film and theatre actress, director,Dramatist and University professor
* Farzaneh Kaboli, a leader in the Iranian Folkloric and National Dance Art
* Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Actress, Singer/Songwriter, Human Rights Campaigner
* Shohreh Aghdashloo, Actress 2003 Oscar nominee for "House of Sand and Fog"
* Pegah Anvarian, Fashion Designer in L.A..
* Pegah Ahangarani, Actress and winner of Best Actress Award, 23rd Cairo International Film Festival.
* Taraneh Alidoosti, Best Actress Award Winner, Locarno International Film Festival, awarded in August 2002
* Mary Apick, Actress, Best Actress Award Winner(1977)
* Leila Arab, Musician
* Mitra Hajjar, Actress
* Soodabeh Salem, Musician and conductor
* Rakhshan Bani-Etemad, Director
* Arfa Atrai, Santur Musician and writer
* Catherine Bell, Actress JAG (Half)
* Sima Bina, Singer.
* Shiva Boloorian, Actress and play director
* Nazanin Boniadi, Actress
* Delkash (Esmat Bagherpour), Singer
* Golshifteh Farahani, Actress and musician, Best Actress Award from the 22nd Nantes 3 Continents Festival and Symorgh for Best Actress from the 16th Fajr International Film Festival
* Leila Forouhar, Singer
* Googoosh, Actress/Singer/Songwriter
* Azita Hajian, Actress, Crystal Simorgh winner 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, Jewellary Designer
* Niki Karimi, Actress and director
* Merila Zarei, Award-winning actress
* Maryam Keshavarz, Director
* Hana Makhmalbaf, Director
* Samira Makhmalbaf, Director
* Marjane Satrapi, film director and graphic novelist [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEQuDfHmr3A]
* Shohreh Solati, Singer
*Rosie Malek-Yonan, Actor, director and writer. [http://imdb.com/title/tt0804522 "Rendition"] (2007 Release). Her most recent appearance is in the role of Farah Mir, mother of Leyla Mir, in the ABC Daytime series General Hospital
* Yassamin Maleknasr, Actress and director
* Marzieh, Singer
* Tahmineh Milani, Feminist filmmaker
* Pouran Derakhshandeh, Film director, producer, screen writer, and researcher
* Nooshafarin, Singer
* Mahin Oskouei First female Iranian film director
* Laleh Pourkarim, Singer
* Parisa (Fatemeh Va'ezi), Doyen of the classical-Persian singers
* Pantea Rahmani, Painter, Sculptor
* Behnaz Sarafpour, Couture fashion designer in NYC
* Shakila, Singer, winner of the Persian Academy Award
* Bahar Soomekh, Actress ("Crash" and "Saw III")
* Tamara Stronach, played the Childlike Empress in the "The Neverending Story"
* Ghodsieh Tavakolian, Artist, Persian Miniature
* Qamar ol-Molouk Vaziri, "Queen of the Persian Music"
* Mahla Zamani, Iranian fashion designer; expert on traditional Iranian dressings
* Sarah Shahi, Actress
* Hedyeh Tehrani, Actress
* Darya Dadvar, Soprano soloist and composer
* Shiva Rose, Actress and anti-war activist [http://www.irandokht.com/TV/TVmore.php?PID=57 Interview]
* Hāni'eh Tavassoli, Actress
* Shushā Guppy, Writer, editor, and singer of Persian and Western folk-songs
* Monir Vakili, Singer of Western Opera and Persian Folk Music [http://www.monirvakili.com]
* Madam Yelena, Dancer, Choreographist
* Amaneh Eskandari,Painter,Video artist [http://www.amneheskandari.com]

Athletes

* Leila Ebrahimi, runner
* Laleh Seddigh, autoracing and rally champion of Iran
* Aravane Rezai, tennis player
* Janet Kohan-Sedq, runner
* Padideh Boloorizadeh, Asian Pentathlon Champion, Captain of Iranian National Volleyball team
* Shadi Tabatabai, Rank No.1 Tennis Player of Iran
* Parisa Faghih Nobari,Rock climbing champion 1997-2005,Ice climbing champion 2006,Runner 1991-1994,Sport climbing instructor

Politicians

* Farrokhroo Parsa, Medical doctor and former Minister of Education (the first Iranian woman to became a deputy and later Minister of Education); executed in 1980, following the Iranian Revolution
* Mahnaz Afkhami, first Minister of Women's Affairs in Iran and second woman in the world to hold the position; former professor of English Literature at the National University and former Secretary General of the Women's Organization of Iran
* Sibel Edmonds, PEN/Newman’s Own First Amendment Award winner [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X39zdgXSqs] Iranian who effectively challenged FBI
* Azar Majedi, Communist activist and politician.
* Masoumeh Ebtekar, Iranian Vice President.
* Goli Ameri, United States Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
* Christiane Amanpour, CNN's chief international correspondent.
* Fatemeh Haghighatjou, former Member of Parliament.
* Elaheh Koulaei, former Member of Parliament and Professor of political sciences.
* Farah Karimi, Iranian female Dutch Member of Parliament. [http://www.sharghnewspaper.com/830327/life.htm]
* Shahla Habibi
* Nasrin Soltankhah
* Fatemeh Javadi, Vice-President, and head of the Department of the Environment.

Royalty

* Roxanna,Roxane,"luminous beauty" She was the daughter of a Bactrian named Oxyartes (then eastern Persia, now northern Afghanistan), and married Alexander in 327 BC.
* Darya Bayat, Daughter of German Royal Irmgard Von Beartz and Persian General Hormoz Bayat. International Award winner of Excellence,Pianist, Composer, Poet and Human Rights Activist.
* Purandokht, Sassanid crown princess and Queen.
* Shahr-banu, Princess.
* Hamida Banu Begum(Mariam Makani),Wife of Mughal Emperor Humayun and mother of Akbar
* Nur Jehan, Wife of Mughal Emperor Jehangir
* Seyyedeh Khatun, RulerFact|date=May 2007.
* 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 Taj Mahal.

Activists

* Mahnaz Afkhami, Human Rights and Women's Rights activist, leading figure in the international women's movement
* Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Human Rights Activist, Singer and Songwriter, 2003 Miss World 1st runner up, Miss Canada 2003
* Bibi Khatoon Astarabadi, Author and pioneer of Persian women's movement in modern Iran
* Forough Azarakhshi, Pioneer of modern education for women in Mashhad
* Golbarg Bashi, feminist academic and activist
* Darya Bayat Human Rights Activist, Pianist, Composer and Poet.
* Sediqeh Dowlatabadi, author and pioneer of Persian women's movement in modern Iran
* Shirin Ebadi, human rights lawyer and judge, 2003 Nobel Laureate
* Zahra Eshraghi, feminist activist,
* Saideh Ghods, writer, philanthropist, founder of MAHAK (Society to Support Children Suffering from Cancer) [http://www.mahak-charity.org/]
* Roya Hakakian, Iranian-Jewish human rights activist and author
* Dr. Morgan Hakimi, Iranian-Jewish psychologist, lecturer, and philanthropist
* Mehrangiz Kar, human rights lawyer and winner of the Ludovic Trarieux International Human Rights Prize
* Parvaneh Eskandari Dariush Forouhar's wife
* Zahra Kazemi, slain political photographer
* Badri (Khosroabadi) Tamaddon, Eastern Star
* Shahla Lahiji, human rights activist and a pioneer of Persian women's movement
*Rosie Malek-Yonan, actor, author and activist who testified on Capitol Hill at [http://www.thecrimsonfield.com/congressionalhea.html U.S. House of Representatives] in 2006 on behalf of the Assyrians in Iraq
* Azar Nafisi, activist and novelist (Reading Lolita in Tehran)
* Maryam Namazie, feminist and communist and the leader of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain.
* Marina Nemat, activist, past political prisoner and author.
* Shadi Sadr, feminist activist, lawyer and journalist
* Shahla Sherkat, editor and a pioneer of women's movement in the modern Iran
* Soraya Sepahpour, political analyst and writer
* Badri Teymourtash, First female Iranian Doctor; a founder of School of Dentistry, Mashad University
* Iran Teymourtash, journalist and early activist; daughter of Abdolhossein Teymourtash
* Maryam Rajavi, President-Elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran.
* Parvin Darabi, author and activist
* Lila Azam Zangeneh, writer and journalist

In the news

* Darya Bayat, Musician, Piano Soloist, International Award winner of Excellence, Composer, Poet, And Human Rights Activist. [http://www.daryabayat.com/]
* Zahra Bani Ameri, Iranian physician
* Behnaz Mozakka, Iranian woman who died in 2005 London bombing.
* Darya Bayat, Pianist, Composer, Poet, Human Right Activist.
* Nazanin Afshin-Jam, 2003 Miss World 1st runner up, Miss Canada 2003, Human Rights Activist, Singer and Songwriter
* Ramona Amiri, Miss World Canada 2005. [http://www.missworld.tv/bio/bio.sps?iBiographyID=51744]
* Rudi Bakhtiar, TV news anchor.
* Minu Barati, wife of Joschka Fischer, German Former Foreign Minister. [http://www2.onunterhaltung.t-online.de/dyn/c/16/29/07/1629076.html]
* Ladan and Laleh Bijani, conjoined twins.
* Haleh Esfandiari, scholar, detainee [http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/05/21/iranian.woman/index.html]
* Lily Mazahery, Lawyer, International Human Rights Activist, President of the Legal Rights Institute. [http://www.herearth.com/index_files/Page1736.htm]
* Mandana Naderian, German TV hostess. [http://www.mandana-naderian.de/]
* Nazanin Fatehi, controversially sentenced to death for murder.
* Shermine Shahrivar, Miss Europe 2005. [http://www.iranian.com/PhotoDay/2005/March/miss.html]
* Masoumeh Soltanbalaqi, Iran's First Woman Bus Driver [http://www.irandokht.com/editorial/index4.php?area=wor&sectionID=53&editorialID=283]
* Dineh Mohajer founded the $10 million-a-year Hard Candy when she was 22 years old [http://www.anvari.org/iran/Famous_Iranians/Dineh_Mohajer.html]
* Yasmin Parvaneh Yasmin Le Bon super model

Others

* Afsane Bassir Pour, Director of the Regional United Nations Information Center (appointed by Kofi Annan) [http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/sga949.doc.htm] , Formerly: Bureau Chief and International Correspondent for Le Monde
* Parisa Khosravi, Senior Vice President and Managing Editor of International Newsgathering for CNN Worldwie [http://www.cnn.com/JOBS/cnn.vj.khosravi.html]
* Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s Chief International Correspondent [http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/amanpour.christiane.html]
* Atoosa Rubenstein, founder and the editor of CosmoGirl magazine and the editor of Seventeen [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/fashion/04atoosa.html?ref=fashion] , [http://www.anvari.org/iran/Famous_Iranians/Atoosa_Rubenstein.html]
* Zahra Rahnavard, First female chancellor of university after revolution
* Sona Babai, Oldest naturalized Iranian American
* Maria Khorsand, former CEO of Ericson Technology Licensing and the present President of OMX Technology FM

References

See also

* Iranian Women
* Iran