Persian Mirrors - The Elusive Face of Iran (Book Review)

Mirroring Persia in frames...

Veils, iron curtain, underground schools, war, veiled women with guns ('Nuns with guns' was the most famous caption for these women) ... these are the images of Iran that come to mind. Iran is indeed an elusive Islamic republic! But I realised there's more to this tiny country.

The book "Persian Mirrors - The Elusive Face of Iran" is written by an Italian scribe Elaine Sciolino. She exposes the fallacies of Iran's rulers and clergymen who ruled Iran for decades and in the name of Islam's tenets, instilled fear among women, to the extent of confining them within houses/gyms/private parties.

Whether it was Khamanei, Khomenei, or Mohammad Khatami, authority did not succeed in suppressing the Iranian women. They carved their own niche in society, run their own business, are successful doctors, lawyers and even sportswomen. Sciolino has featured women who showed remarkable courage in speaking openly against authority, even courted arrests. One of the women's newspapers faced shutdown thrice, yet she relentlessly continued her fight for women's rights!

The author has shattered many myths and perceptions about Iran's socio-political fabric.

The unique selling points of this book: the author's narrative abilities! What totally appealed to me is Elaine's courage to have gone to Iran and reported events over three decades - sometimes even putting her own life in danger (covering the hostage crisis and the Iran-Iraq war) - the signs of a true journalist!

This is one of the best books that I've read and strongly recommend to everyone interested in history, politics and the social fabric of any nation.

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