The Nobel Peace Prize for 2003 has been awarded to Shirin Ebadi for her efforts for democracy and human rights. In 2001 The Rafto Prize for Human Rights was awarded to Shirin Ebadi for her lifelong struggle for democracy, peace and human rights in Iran and for her work on the protection and rights of women and children. This book brings together leading scholars to provide an indepth analysis of family, education, economy, democracy, human rights and Islam in Iran. This volume provides a comprehensive and citical analysis of the current situation in Iran both by Iranian and international scholars. The goal of this volume is to provide an indepth understanding of various facets of Iranian society that could serve as a basis for promoting democracy, human rights and peace in Iran and beyond its borders.