The Islamic Republic of Iran is currently experiencing multiple crises and rebellions, including the 2022/2023 national uprisings led by women protesting mandatory veiling laws. This interdisciplinary research highlights the four main axes contributing to the conjunctural crisis in Iran: (1) gender oppression and social reproduction, (2) the ethnocentric and centralizing nation-state, (3) the impasse of the Reform movement, and (4) authoritarian neoliberalism and political economy predation. These crises have deep and intricate roots that have shaped one another over several decades. The article aims to offer a historically contextualized account of ongoing emancipatory struggles for democratic rights and liberation in Iran.

The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in custody after being arrested for improperly wearing her hijab, has sparked nationwide protests in Iran. Amini's generation, less scarred than the 'Burnt Generation' before them but still burdened with repression and corruption, is more willing to take risks and utilise social media to organise and forge solidarity. This new generation of dissenters could potentially match the fervour of the regime's supporters and bring about a strategic shift that drastically changes Iran's political landscape. Despite occasional tilts towards reform, the regime has failed to address the root causes of popular dissatisfaction, leading to ongoing protests and discontent. The trajectory of these protests will determine whether this new generation of dissenters succeeds in bringing about the change the 'Burnt Generation' hoped for.

Fezzeh Khanom, an African woman who was a slave of Sayyed ‘Ali-Mohammad of Shiraz, the Bab, was venerated by Babis but remained subordinate and invisible. However, information about her life has been found in various Baha'i histories, making it possible to form a history of African slavery in Iran at the level of individual biographies. It's estimated that between one and two million slaves were exported from Africa to the Indian Ocean trade in the 19th century, with the majority brought to Iranian ports as household servants and concubines. The life of Fezzeh Khanom can help to fill gaps in the knowledge of enslaved women in Iran and to examine African influences on Iranian culture. The paper also notes the limited value of Western legal distinctions between slavery and freedom when applied to the Muslim world. Overall, the paper encourages the exploration of individual biographies to unearth more information about African slavery in Iran and its impact on Iranian society.

In September 2022, nationwide protests erupted in Iran in response to the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old girl killed by the morality police for not wearing a proper hijab. This event led to the first women-led movement in Iran, which signifies a crucial moment in the fight against gender apartheid in the Islamic Republic. This commentary examines the significant role of this movement as it relates to the ongoing resistance against the oppression of women, focusing on the politics of the body and the reclamation of women's bodies in a patriarchal society. The movement's slogans, symbols, and icons all express the need for justice, dignity, and freedom for Iranian women. The commentary argues that this movement marks a historical moment that must be recognized as both a local and global struggle for women's rights and fundamental human rights. The women-led movement in Iran represents a symbol of hope and resilience for women everywhere who face similar struggles and reaffirms the importance of power, agency, and collective action in achieving societal change.

An uprising began in Iran on September 16, 2022, sparked by the death of a woman who was beaten by morality police for wearing an "inappropriate" hijab. The movement has the potential to become a serious uprising due to the dissatisfaction of how the government manages the whole system and the use of pressure to control people, particularly women, in different aspects of their lives. The "Woman, Life, Freedom" slogan has been used in all the demonstrations taking place both inside and outside Iran, reflecting the Iranian people's exact needs, including women's rights, essential living requirements, and the ability to voice their dissent. The movement has become a call for change, and the government should address people's concerns and implement reforms instead of using force to suppress dissent. If the government does not respond to the demands of the people, the movement will likely gain momentum, and the situation could escalate further, leading to a more profound crisis in Iran. It is therefore essential for the government to take immediate action to address the root causes of the uprising and meet people's demands before it is too late.

In light of the ongoing protests by women and girls in Iran against the country's repressive regime, this editorial expresses support for their struggle and draws attention to the broader global context of gender politics. The editorial recognizes the bravery of these protesters, who are confronting a government that has systematically curtailed women's rights and declared their lives to be worth half those of men. The death of Mahsa Amini, imprisoned and ultimately killed for a "bad hijab," has galvanized the protesters, and women's hair has become a symbol of resistance and a prefiguration of a new freedom. While the struggle of Iranian women is unique in many ways, it also resonates with the rise of right-wing, populist, and fundamentalist movements around the world that seek to control particular sexed, racialized, and gendered bodies, roll back feminist gains, denigrate migrants, and foster violence and hate. As gender politics becomes increasingly central to global power politics, feminists face complex and contradictory relationships with "the state," lobbying for policy and legal changes while also facing attacks on feminist values. In this context, the editorial highlights the need for solidarity with the women and girls in Iran and other contexts where gender equality is under threat.

The ongoing women's movement in Iran indicates that it is not limited to changes within the country, but rather a call for fundamental changes in human relationships and human rights all over the world. Women from diverse backgrounds are taking more responsibility for their role in creating peace, security, equality, and justice. The movement is seen through photo and camera records on social media, which map an historical glimpse of the women's movement in Iran after the Islamic revolution and describe the forms of civil disobedience portrayed. The reconceptualization of global solidarity and diversity in political representation and decision-making among observers, academics, and social activists is highlighted. This article describes the transition from individual salvation to collective maturity for fundamental changes in human relationships. Overall, the women's movement in Iran serves as a reminder of the injustices and discriminations that have occurred worldwide and the need for cooperation to achieve meaningful change.

This research explores the perspectives and experiences of human flourishing among devout Muslim women with an immigrant background in the Netherlands. The study aims to understand what this tells us about worthwhile development in a multicultural Western country compared to previous research in India. The study uses Nussbaum’s capabilities approach to understand the essential requirements for a life worthy of dignity. Freedom and respect emerged as critical elements, with the women emphasizing religious freedom as a necessity for living by their system of meaning. However, even with institutional guarantees for religious freedom, everyday encounters between citizens can have a crucial impact on the experience of dignity, necessitating deep respect rather than superficial toleration. The study explores possible difficulties in a liberal society for securing deep respect. The study highlights the need for greater understanding of and engagement with the perspectives of immigrant communities on human flourishing to support genuine multiculturalism in Western societies.

Kundanika Kapadia's work, which won the 1985 Sahitya Akademi Award, has been a landmark in translation studies and feminist literature, challenging the treatment of women by male-dominated society. The protagonist of the novel, Vasudha, challenges the ways of life and seeks to come out of the illusionary world she doesn't want to live in. The novel explores traditions and customs in Gujarat, posing questions that still remain unanswered today, such as whether women are equal to men and if they have a separate identity. Vasudha's desire for mutual trust and respect is a game changer for the orthodox values and traditions that do not regard women. The paper concludes that the protagonist's quest for the purpose of life and her firm desire to be free from illusions of life make the novel a powerful example of social and spiritual development. Although we live in a gender-equality world, Vasudha's challenges to societal norms and expectations are still relevant today.

A study conducted in regional Tehran, Iran, has found that the quality of life for pregnant women in rural areas is comparably low in both Iranian and Afghan women. The study investigated the health status of 300 pregnant Iranian and Afghan women using the standard health-related quality of life questionnaire. Results found that Iranian mothers had lower scores overall, with the social functioning subscale having the lowest score in both groups. The study also found a relationship between the quality of life of Iranian pregnant women and their level of education and family’s monthly income. Meanwhile, the quality of life of Afghan pregnant women was found to be linked to the lesser number of pregnancies. The study concludes that interventions are needed to improve the quality of life for this vulnerable population. Pregnancy brings with it many changes to a woman’s life, including physiological, metabolic, social, and psychological changes, which can be further impacted by migration. Understanding and addressing the specific needs of pregnant women in rural areas is vital to improving their quality of life.