The Iranian president has more than ten vice-presidents, including the first vice-president and the head of the nuclear organization. Chasali, 58, is the first female member of the new president’s government. Unlike the ministers, the vice-presidents do not need parliamentary approval.
Chasali is the daughter of the cleric Abolghassem Chasali and is considered arch-conservative. She has a doctorate in Arabic language and literature, was a lecturer in several universities and also dean at the Al-Sahra Women’s University in Tehran.
Chasali is known more as the author of various Islamic books and religious researcher and less as a politician. According to observers, the new women’s representative will find it difficult to stand up for the rights of Iranian women, especially those of the younger generation, because of her ultra-conservative views.
In Iran, women do not have the same rights as men because of Islamic laws. Although many laws have been revised in favor of women in recent years, they are still severely discriminated against in various legal matters such as divorce, child custody and inheritance matters. In addition, since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, they have had to wear headscarves and long coats to hide their hair and body contours. However, this ban is now being ignored again and again by many Iranian women, especially in large cities.