JEWELS OF ALLAH: The Untold Story of Women in Iran Wins The 2016 International Book Awards In Women's Issues

LOS ANGELES, June 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ Jewels of Allah: The Untold Story of Women in Iranwins coveted First Prize in Women's Issues in the 2016 International Book Awards, Bookvana.comannounced this week. Winners and finalists were announced in over 80 categories. Awards were presented for titles published in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Jewels of Allah: The Untold Story of Women in Iranis an unprecedented book that explores the changing relationships between Iranian women and the State, the history and development of a feminist movement in the country and the achievements of key Iranian women in the struggle for women's rights.

The book celebrates the many courageous female leaders and advocates throughout Iran's history, while revealing the unanticipated consequences of the Islamic revolution leading to a full-blown feminist movement within a post-revolutionary patriarchal society.

A provocative roller coaster ride, Jewels of Allah shatters the stereotypical Western narrative about women in Iran and traces the historical winds of change and the flourishing of powerful female voices.

Dr. Nina Ansaryis a bestselling author, historian and leading authority on women's rights in Iran.

Born in Tehran and now based in Los Angeles, Dr. Ansary has donated 100% of the proceeds to charities supporting women in Iran, including the Omid Foundation, shortlisted for the 2016 Civil Society Charity Award.

Dr. Ansary has presented at Columbia, Oxford, Cambridge, New York and Harvard universities as well as worldwide conferences in Dublin, Milan and London.
Her advocacy for women's rights worldwide has won support from an eclectic following of over 250,000 influencers, including Arianna Huffington, actress Nazanin Boniadi, actor Taye Diggs, TV host Montel Williams,VogueUK editor Laura Bailey and British pop singer Kim Wilde.
Recently profiled inThe New York Timesas one of "Five Iranian Visionaries You Need to Know," Dr. Ansary has also been honored as one of "The 21 Leaders of the 21st Century" by Women's ENews. She is a regular contributor to The Daily Beast and The Huffington Post. She has appeared on Fox News, Larry King, The BBC and CBS Radio and been featured inThe Los Angeles Times,The New York Times, The UKDaily Telegraph, among others.

Dr. Ansary holds anM.A. in Middle Eastern Studiesand a PhD in History from Columbia University. Sheserves on the board of trustees at the Iranian-American Women's Foundation, BarnardCollege, the Middle East Institute Advisory Board at Columbia University and on Columbia University's Global Leadership Council.

Praise for Jewels of Allah included the below:

"A well-documented and persuasively written examination of the change in Iranian women's status under the country's secular and religious governmentsmaintains an engaging tone that makes it easy for casual readers to follow the arguments." Kirkus Reviews

"Nina Ansary's book is a must-read for anyone hoping for a fuller understanding of the role of women and the women's rights movement in Iran. It is a must needed antidote to Western misconceptions." San Francisco Book Review

"I am a big fan of women speaking out, telling their stories, using their voices - and author Nina Ansary has used hers in an astonishing, important way. Her Jewels of Allah is brave, authentic and riveting. What a compelling example of why women NEED to tell their stories. Read this." Kathy Najimy, actress/activist

"An incisive, intellectually robust look at the feminist movement in Irana riveting portrait of the Iranian woman: her strength, resilience, suffering and hope." Publishers Weekly

For more information, please visitninaansary.comor connect @drninaansary

CONTACT: Nancy Kane, 917-379-8000, nancyjkane@gmail.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160531/373706

SOURCE Dr. Nina Ansary

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