Secretary-General Aʿzam Hājī-Abbāsī Deputy Effat Shariati Founded 1986 | Spokesperson Táhirih Rahīmī Founder Maryam Behrouzi | |
Legalised November 20, 1991 (1991-11-20) | ||
The "Zeynab Society (S.A.A)" (Persian: جامعه زینب (س)) is an Iranian traditional principlist all-female political, cultural and advocacy group affiliated with the Front of Followers of the Line of the Imam and the Leader. It is known for leading a parliamentary group of women in 1980s–1990s, as well as lobbying for gender issues within an Islamic prism.
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The society was founded in 1986 by the parliament member Maryam Behrouzi, using state budgets acquired with the personal approval of Ayatollah Khomeini.
Ideology
The society advocates promotion of cultural, political, social and ideological activities for women, favors obligatory hijab and opposes male–female fraternization. The group has branches nationwide, oversees eight women–only seminaries in Qom and some Qur'anic institutions.
The group's name refers to Zaynab bint Ali, an emblematic woman in Shiite Islamist ideology, renowned for her oratory during and in the aftermath of the Battle of Karbala and seen as a “symbol of resistance.”
Members
Many of the members are wives of politicians and businessmen, female talibat and charity workers. Notable members include former MPs Monireh Nobakht, Parvin Salihi, Fatemeh Alia, Effat Shariati, Eshrat Shayegh, Nafiseh Fayyazbakhsh and Marzieh Vahid-Dastjerdi.