SAN DIEGO – A prominent Muslim woman scholar is scheduled to speak at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law on issues involving women’s rights and Islam this Friday, October 13. The event is sponsored by Thomas Jefferson’s Center for Global Studies, under the direction of Professor Susan Tiefenbrun. The lecture is free of charge and intended for the public as well as the law school community.
Dr. Ziba Mir-Hosseini is a well-known Iranian social anthropologist, with interests in Islamic Law, women’s rights, and rural development. She has had extensive field research and consultancy experience in Iran and Morocco. Her film documentary “Divorce Iranian Style” has won several prestigious awards. Her most recent film documentary is entitled “Runaway.” She is also a prolific author, having written extensively on the topic of women’s rights and family law in Iran, including books, articles and journals. Among her books is Islam and Gender: The Religious Debate in Contemporary Iran.
Dr. Mir-Hosseini’s lecture, “Women and Family Law in Iran: Challenging Patriarchy,” will be presented from 11:40 a.m. to
12:40 p.m. in Room 300 of the Thomas Jefferson Law Library Building, 2121 San Diego Avenue, San Diego. She will show film clips from her divorce documentary to animate the discussion of this very controversial subject.
“Professor Ziba Mir-Hosseini is one of the most impressive scholars in the area of women’s rights in Iran. Her research into the compatibility of Islam and women’s rights is prodigious,” said Professor Tiefenbrun. “We are very lucky to have her here. She is currently a Visiting Professor at NYU School of Law.”
Thomas Jefferson’s Center for Global Legal Studies was established to examine the legal implications of the globalization of the world economy and the gradual erosion of national sovereignty in areas as diverse as business, the environment, criminal justice and human rights.
*NOTE: The Lecture by Karima Bennoune has been cancelled