On Thursday July 30 the Strand‘s picturesque rare book room was clad with a lectern, stage and rows of seats to duly host a discussion by Nina Ansary, author of Jewels of Allah: The Untold Story of Women in Iran, and Cyrus Copeland, author of Off the Radar: A Fatherโs Secret, a Motherโs Heroism and, a Sonโs Quest, led by Iranian-American journalist Negar Mortazavi.
Photo courtesy of ninaansary.com
The event was held to celebrate the new release of Ansaryโs book which strives to tell the story of Iranian women with uncouth honesty and to give the individual supporters of the Iranian feminist movement the recognition they deserve. Copelandโs book Off The Radar tells the gripping story of how his father was accused of being a CIA agent by the Iranian government and how his mother defended him in court, making her the first Iranian woman to do so. Last nightโs discussion touched on a medley of related topics from the authorsโ inspiration for their work to their opinions on the new nuclear agreement with Iran. Following the lively discussion attendees journeyed to Laudrรฉe SoHo for a delicious reception.
Born in Tehran, Dr. Nina Ansary is a historian and expert in the womenโs movement in Iran.ย ย Inspired by her doctoral research at Columbia University,ย Jewels of Allah: The Untold Story of Women in Iranย celebrates the manyย fearlessย Iranian women throughout the history of the country, right up to the current day and illuminates a growingย feminist movement emerging within Iranโs patriarchal society.ย 100% of the proceeds will benefit women’s organizations including theย Omid Foundation, an organizationย that helps vulnerable young women in Iran transform their lives.ย Visit here for more information:ย ninaansary.com
