Key Player: Zahra Rahnavard

You may have noticed that all of the key players so far have been men. Yet women have always played a very important role in Iran and one of the most influential women in the current uprising is the wife of Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard. She has become an icon of the reformist movement and a role model for Iranian women. Rahnavard campaigned actively with her husband and became the first spouse of a politician to gain wide spread notoriety in the history of the Islamic Republic. She has continued to speak out against the regime and join her husband in opposition events.

Rahnavard studied art and architecture at the University of Tehran where see met another student Mir Hussein Mousavi. The two married in 1969 and they would go on to have 3 daughters. In addition to having a master's degree in art and architecture, Rahnavard also has a PhD in political science.

Mousavi and Rahnavard became actively engaged in the effort to overthrow the Shah of Iran. Rahnavard was particularly close to Ali Shariati a influential Islamic intellectual. After helping successful the revolution, her husband became the prime minister of Iran while she pursued her own career.

The election of reformist President Khatami in 1997 allowed Rahnavard to be appointed the first female chancellor of a Iranian university since the Islamic Revolution. She ran the all women Alzahra Univeristy until 2006 when the presidency of Ahmadinejad made it difficult for her to continue and she left the post.

When Mousavi announced his candidacy and began campaigning, Rahnavard was right by his side at rallies and interviews. This was highly unusual for the spouse of a candidate to take such a prominent role in the election process. Her popularity forced the other candidates to also introduce their spouses to the public. Rahnavard was even compared to Michelle Obama, a comparison she dismissed, "I am not Michelle Obama. I am Zahra Rahnavard. I am a follower of the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, who has the same name."

Rahnavard became an instant hit with Iran's reformist movement especially young women who could identify with her. Yet with the stolen election, Rahnavard joined her husband in calling out the regime for its actions and demanding for a fair election. Sadly, this led to the arrest of her brother who is apolitical as a way of punishing her and her husband. Yet Rahnavard still stands up to this regime and acts as a symbol of hope for millions of Iranians.

Much has been made about how women played a key role in the current uprising in Iran and it certainly is true. Yet many Western observers fail to appreciate the great role that women have played in Iranian society and in the reformist movement for many years. Rahnavard has always been on the cutting edge of progress for the women's movement in Iran and she will continue to struggle for freedom and justice for all of Iran's people.