What was your impression of the subject before reading and did it change afterward? “The Awakening of Iran: Memory of Revolution and Hope” quickly caught my attention when I was looking for a book to read. Since my family is from the Middle East, I assume my culture and background are similar to people living in Iran. I wanted to learn the similarities and differences between my traditions and the Iranian way of life. Additionally, I wanted to know more about how the Iranian government is organized and set up. Previously, I had heard that the laws and regulations enforced in Iran were very strict and that the Iranian people had limited freedoms. I thought this book would give me insight into the laws that Iranians must adhere to. Additionally, I was curious about how Islamic law was integrated into the daily lives of the Iranian people. Reading this autobiography, written by Shirin Ebadi, opened my eyes. The author describes the struggles women face regarding equality under the Islamic Republic. She educates her audience about the efforts individuals must make to obtain basic human rights. She does this by presenting a real-life narrative based on her life in Iran. She mentions how conservatism due to Islamic law has a negative impact on society. However, she is a strong supporter of Islam and believes that Islam can be present in a democracy. While studying this book, I learned that conservative Islam and Islamic jurists are behind the strict regulations interpreted in Iran. Women are denied basic human rights, such as being forced to wear a headscarf, or hijab, around their heads. Political activists, lawyers, journalists, ethnic and religious minorities are constantly targeted. Individuals ...... middle of paper ...... in his native country, and fight for the freedom and rights of individuals. As an individual determined to fight for her people, she was imprisoned in June 2000. The reason for her incarceration was based on the recording of a witness's testimony regarding the death case of a young activist. Through this experience, the author gives readers a glimpse of a prison in the Iranian capital. By recounting this incident, the author informs her audience how far she is willing to go to fight for the women and children of her country. Regarding his personal beliefs, Ebadi aspires to a temporal separation between religion and government. It recognizes that Iran is a country in which religion and government are closely intertwined. However, the author is tired of women's limited rights, and they live in continued terror of decrees issued by the Islamic regime...