Justine Harun-Mahdavi
Encyclopedia
Justine Harun-Mahdavi is a German woman who lived in Iran
between 1968 and 1979. She is the writer of the recently published book Not without My Husband
.
Her memoir
, Not Without My Husband, describes her life with her Persian (Iranian) husband and two children in Iran. The book offers a direct view of the Iranian society as seen by a Westerner
.
Justine moved to Iran 1968 and lived with her husband and two children in different cities (mainly in Kerman
, Mashhad
and Tehran
) for more than 11 years. Her husband Masoud was in different political positions. He was twice the mayor
of the holy city of Mashhad. He also was once mayor of the capital city, Tehran. Due to his popularity among the people, he was even a member of the new government during the first months of the Islamic Republic
. But he soon understood that the theocratic regime was not on path to bring democracy
and freedom to the Iranian people. So Justine and her family left Iran in September 1979. Her husband is an active and well known member of the democratic Iranian opposition called Jebhe Melli. She visited Iran together with her daughter and son again in 2000. Justine today lives in a town close to Munich
in Germany. In her recently published book, Not Without My Husband
, she pleads for freedom and democracy in Iran and for tolerance towards all nations, religions and cultures in the world.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
between 1968 and 1979. She is the writer of the recently published book Not without My Husband
Not Without My Husband
Not Without My Husband is a book written by Justine Harun-Mahdavi. The book is the memoir of Justine and her life as a German woman with her Persian husband, Masoud Harun-Mahdavi, in Iran before and after the Iranian revolution.Justine came to Iran in 1968 and lived with her husband and two...
.
Her memoir
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
, Not Without My Husband, describes her life with her Persian (Iranian) husband and two children in Iran. The book offers a direct view of the Iranian society as seen by a Westerner
Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
.
Justine moved to Iran 1968 and lived with her husband and two children in different cities (mainly in Kerman
Kerman
- Geological characteristics :For the Iranian paleontologists, Kerman has always been considered a fossil paradise. Finding new dinosaur footprints in 2005 has now revealed new hopes for paleontologists to better understand the history of this area.- Economy :...
, Mashhad
Mashhad
Mashhad , is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Muslim world. It is also the only major Iranian city with an Arabic name. It is located east of Tehran, at the center of the Razavi Khorasan Province close to the borders of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Its...
and Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
) for more than 11 years. Her husband Masoud was in different political positions. He was twice the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the holy city of Mashhad. He also was once mayor of the capital city, Tehran. Due to his popularity among the people, he was even a member of the new government during the first months of the Islamic Republic
Islamic republic
Islamic republic is the name given to several states in the Muslim world including the Islamic Republics of Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Mauritania. Pakistan adopted the title under the constitution of 1956. Mauritania adopted it on 28 November 1958. Iran adopted it after the 1979 Iranian...
. But he soon understood that the theocratic regime was not on path to bring democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and freedom to the Iranian people. So Justine and her family left Iran in September 1979. Her husband is an active and well known member of the democratic Iranian opposition called Jebhe Melli. She visited Iran together with her daughter and son again in 2000. Justine today lives in a town close to Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in Germany. In her recently published book, Not Without My Husband
Not Without My Husband
Not Without My Husband is a book written by Justine Harun-Mahdavi. The book is the memoir of Justine and her life as a German woman with her Persian husband, Masoud Harun-Mahdavi, in Iran before and after the Iranian revolution.Justine came to Iran in 1968 and lived with her husband and two...
, she pleads for freedom and democracy in Iran and for tolerance towards all nations, religions and cultures in the world.
External links
- Not Without My Husband (Deutsche WelleDeutsche WelleDeutsche Welle or DW, is Germany's international broadcaster. The service is aimed at the overseas market. It broadcasts news and information on shortwave, Internet and satellite radio on 98.7 DZFE in 30 languages . It has a satellite television service , that is available in four languages, and...
: in Persian) - Nicht ohne meinen Mann. Erinnerungen einer deutschen Frau an ihre Zeit im Iran