Iran’s Michelle Obama?

Following the developments in Iran in wake of the Presidential elections I came across an interesting report. The subtitle of the report caught my attention: Iran’s Michelle Obama. It’s about Zahra Rahnavard, wife of presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousav. Zahra’s credentials are not merely defined through her husband’s identity; she has served as the chancellor of the Alzahra University in Tehran and as a political adviser to former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami.   Zahra has been actively campaigning for her husband and appears on several campaign posters with Hossein. Though this may not be spectacular for the westerners, it’s stunning by the Iranian standards. Never before has a female in Iran voiced political opinions so openly. Moreover, the fact that Zahra is highly educated (she has a Ph.D. in political Science) and conveniently handles questions on Iran’s political and social policies, counters the perceptions that she is merely a shadow figure for Hossein. Her mannerisms and dressing style reflects her reformist approach to Islamic traditions.  Here is how the crowd, mostly younger voters, has responded to here campaign rallies.

No matter who wins the Presidential contest, Zahra Rahnavard’s contribution to Iranian politics would be everlasting.