Farrokhroo Parsa
Encyclopedia
Farokhroo Pārsā, was an Iran
ian physician, educator and parliamentarian. She served as Minister of Education of Iran in the last pre-Islamic revolution
government and was the first female cabinet minister of an Iranian government.
Pārsā was an outspoken supporter of women's rights in Iran, and was executed by firing squad on 8 May 1980 after the Islamists came to powers in Iran, on religious-revolutionary charges stemming from this position.Some journalists based on informed sources say her execution was carried out by putting her in a big bag/gooni and throwing her from top of mountain, rolling down to her death. In a letter she wrote to the Shah in the early 1960s requesting the right for women to vote, the late Shah had replied, “I will seek my nation’s vote on the matter, my people are not consisted only of men.”
to Farrokh-Din and Fakhr-e Āfāgh Pārsā. Her mother, Fakhr-e Āfāgh, was the editor of the women's magazine Jahān-e Zan ("The World of Woman"), and a vocal proponent for gender equality
and for educational opportunities for women. Her views on this subject met with opposition of the conservative sections of the society of her time, leading to the expulsion of the family by the government of Ahmad Qavām, from Tehran
to Qom
, where Fakhr-e Āfāgh was placed under house arrest. It was here that Farrokhroo was born, some minutes past midnight on Iranian New Year's Eve 1922 (Nowruz
, 1301 AH
). Later, with the intervention of Prime Minister Hasan Mostowfi ol-Mamalek
, her family was allowed to return to Tehran.
Upon obtaining a medical degree, Pārsā became a biology
teacher in Jeanne d'Arc Highschool in Tehran. At the school she came to know Farah Diba, one of her students at this school, and who would later become wife of King Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
.
In 1963, Pārsā was elected to parliament (the Majles), and began petitioning Mohammad Reza Pahlavi for suffrage
for Iran's women. She was also a driving force for legislation that amended the existing laws concerning women and family. In 1965 Pārsā was appointed Deputy Minister of Education and on 27 August 1968 she became Minister of Education in the cabinet of the Amir-Abbas Hoveyda government. It was the first time in the history of Iran that a woman has occupied a cabinet position.
Farrokhroo Pārsā was executed by firing squad on 8 May 1980 in Tehran
, at the outset of the Islamic Cultural Revolution, on charges of "spreading vice on Earth and fighting God". Some journalists based on informed sources say he was put in a bag and was thrown from mountain.
In her last letter from prison, Farrokhroo Pārsā wrote to her children: "I am a doctor, so I have no fear of death. Death is only a moment and no more. I am prepared to receive death with open arms rather than live in shame by being forced to be veiled. I am not going to bow to those who expect me to express regret for fifty years of my efforts for equality between men and women. I am not prepared to wear the chador
and step back in history."
Her successor as the Education Minister of Iran, Manouchehr Ganji
another minister before Islamic revolution, expressed surprise at her execution: she was "a lady, [...]Doctor , a competent physician who entertained good relations at the Ministry with revolutionaries like Beheshti, Bahonar
, and Rejaii."
In fact, during her tenure as minister of education, Beheshti, Bahonar
and Mohammed Mofatteh were on the ministry's payroll. These three were to be major players in the Islamic Revolution several years later. With her ministry's funding, Beheshti established the Islamic Center of Hamburg and BaHonar was able to set up a few Islamic public schools around Tehran.
After her execution, government newspapers (including Kayhan
, Ettela'at
) claimed that Farrokhroo Pārsā was a member of the Bahá'í community. Such a claim may be attributed to the general perception that advocates for women's rights are Bahá'ís (see Iranian women's movement for details). In her personal blog
Pārsā's niece Roya Parsay unequivocally states that her aunt "was NOT a Bahá'í."
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian physician, educator and parliamentarian. She served as Minister of Education of Iran in the last pre-Islamic revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
government and was the first female cabinet minister of an Iranian government.
Pārsā was an outspoken supporter of women's rights in Iran, and was executed by firing squad on 8 May 1980 after the Islamists came to powers in Iran, on religious-revolutionary charges stemming from this position.Some journalists based on informed sources say her execution was carried out by putting her in a big bag/gooni and throwing her from top of mountain, rolling down to her death. In a letter she wrote to the Shah in the early 1960s requesting the right for women to vote, the late Shah had replied, “I will seek my nation’s vote on the matter, my people are not consisted only of men.”
Biography
Farrokhroo Pārsā was born on 22 March 1922 in Qom, IranQom
Qom is a city in Iran. It lies by road southwest of Tehran and is the capital of Qom Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 957,496, in 241,827 families. It is situated on the banks of the Qom River....
to Farrokh-Din and Fakhr-e Āfāgh Pārsā. Her mother, Fakhr-e Āfāgh, was the editor of the women's magazine Jahān-e Zan ("The World of Woman"), and a vocal proponent for gender equality
Gender equality
Gender equality is the goal of the equality of the genders, stemming from a belief in the injustice of myriad forms of gender inequality.- Concept :...
and for educational opportunities for women. Her views on this subject met with opposition of the conservative sections of the society of her time, leading to the expulsion of the family by the government of Ahmad Qavām, from Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
to Qom
Qom
Qom is a city in Iran. It lies by road southwest of Tehran and is the capital of Qom Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 957,496, in 241,827 families. It is situated on the banks of the Qom River....
, where Fakhr-e Āfāgh was placed under house arrest. It was here that Farrokhroo was born, some minutes past midnight on Iranian New Year's Eve 1922 (Nowruz
Nowruz
Nowrūz is the name of the Iranian New Year in Iranian calendars and the corresponding traditional celebrations. Nowruz is also widely referred to as the Persian New Year....
, 1301 AH
Iranian calendar
The Iranian calendars or sometimes called Persian calendars are a succession of calendars invented or used for over two millennia in Greater Iran...
). Later, with the intervention of Prime Minister Hasan Mostowfi ol-Mamalek
Mostowfi ol-Mamalek
Mirza Hasan Ashtiani Mostowfi al-Mamalek was an Iranian Politician who served as Prime Minister of Iran on six separate occasions.-Early Life:...
, her family was allowed to return to Tehran.
Upon obtaining a medical degree, Pārsā became a biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
teacher in Jeanne d'Arc Highschool in Tehran. At the school she came to know Farah Diba, one of her students at this school, and who would later become wife of King Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
.
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
for Iran's women. She was also a driving force for legislation that amended the existing laws concerning women and family. In 1965 Pārsā was appointed Deputy Minister of Education and on 27 August 1968 she became Minister of Education in the cabinet of the Amir-Abbas Hoveyda government. It was the first time in the history of Iran that a woman has occupied a cabinet position.
Farrokhroo Pārsā was executed by firing squad on 8 May 1980 in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, at the outset of the Islamic Cultural Revolution, on charges of "spreading vice on Earth and fighting God". Some journalists based on informed sources say he was put in a bag and was thrown from mountain.
In her last letter from prison, Farrokhroo Pārsā wrote to her children: "I am a doctor, so I have no fear of death. Death is only a moment and no more. I am prepared to receive death with open arms rather than live in shame by being forced to be veiled. I am not going to bow to those who expect me to express regret for fifty years of my efforts for equality between men and women. I am not prepared to wear the chador
Chador
A chādor or chādar is an outer garment or open cloak worn by many Iranian women and female teenagers in public spaces. Wearing this garment is one possible way in which a Muslim woman can follow the Islamic dress code known as ḥijāb. A chador is a full-body-length semicircle of fabric that is...
and step back in history."
Her successor as the Education Minister of Iran, Manouchehr Ganji
Manouchehr Ganji
Manouchehr Ganji is a human rights activist and a former Minister of Education of Iran .- Life :Ganji was born in Tehran, Iran. He received his B.A. and M.A...
another minister before Islamic revolution, expressed surprise at her execution: she was "a lady, [...]Doctor , a competent physician who entertained good relations at the Ministry with revolutionaries like Beheshti, Bahonar
Bahonar
Bahonar may refer to either of two Iranian politicians, who are brothers:* Mohammad Javad Bahonar, the Prime Minister of Iran assassinated in 1981* Mohammad Reza Bahonar, the current Deputy Speaker of Majlis of IranBahonar is also an Iranian placename....
, and Rejaii."
In fact, during her tenure as minister of education, Beheshti, Bahonar
Bahonar
Bahonar may refer to either of two Iranian politicians, who are brothers:* Mohammad Javad Bahonar, the Prime Minister of Iran assassinated in 1981* Mohammad Reza Bahonar, the current Deputy Speaker of Majlis of IranBahonar is also an Iranian placename....
and Mohammed Mofatteh were on the ministry's payroll. These three were to be major players in the Islamic Revolution several years later. With her ministry's funding, Beheshti established the Islamic Center of Hamburg and BaHonar was able to set up a few Islamic public schools around Tehran.
After her execution, government newspapers (including Kayhan
Kayhan
Kayhan is an influential newspaper in Iran. Directly under the supervision of the Office of the Supreme Leader, it is regarded to be "the most conservative Iranian newspaper."...
, Ettela'at
Ettela'at
- Incidents :On January 6, 1978 a slanderous article appeared in Ettela'at suggesting Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was a homosexual and a serving British agent. The next day, clerics in Qom protested and the police demanded they disperse. When they refused, police opened fire and at least twenty...
) claimed that Farrokhroo Pārsā was a member of the Bahá'í community. Such a claim may be attributed to the general perception that advocates for women's rights are Bahá'ís (see Iranian women's movement for details). In her personal blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
Pārsā's niece Roya Parsay unequivocally states that her aunt "was NOT a Bahá'í."
External links
- A photograph of Farrokhroo Pārsā in conversation with Amir-Abbās Hoveydā.
- An old photograph of the young family of Farrokh-Din Pārsā and Fakhr-e Āfāgh Pārsā.
