Women of Komala
Gender and Revolution in Iranian Kurdistan
Fatemeh Karimi author Janet Biehl translator Katharine Hodgkin translator
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Pluto Press
Publishing:20th Jun '25
£24.99
This title is due to be published on 20th June, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
Kurdistan has a storied and turbulent past, marked by a relentless struggle for self-determination and survival. Kurdish women have been at the forefront of this struggle: their lives are a testament to resilience in the face of relentless adversity, as they navigate the complexities of revolution and the quest for freedom and equality.
This groundbreaking book is the first comprehensive study of leftist women guerrillas in Iranian Kurdistan, predating the emergence of women fighters in Rojava by more than three decades. Focusing on Komala (1979-1991), a radical Kurdish-Iranian organisation pioneering the inclusion of women as combatants, Women of Komala examines the lives and political participation of marginalised women.
Drawing on extensive interviews with former members, the book analyses subjects rarely addressed within Kurdish political parties, including familial, social, and organisational obstacles; gendered organisational dynamics; patriarchy; the issue of children; and the sexual division of roles within families and the party. This rich account situates Komala within the political context of the 1979 Revolution and its aftermath, shedding light on the importance of critical reflection on gender relations during this pivotal period in the history of Kurdistan and Iran.
'An epistemic intervention addressing the neglect of Kurdish women’s experiences from Western and Middle Eastern feminist studies, as well as from Kurdish and Iranian studies, fields that have historically overlooked both women and Kurdish perspectives. Drawing on extensive interviews yet written with the immersive depth of longstanding ethnography, Fatemeh Karimi reveals how these women’s military, intellectual, and everyday contributions in post-revolutionary era were essential to the organisation and challenged traditional hierarchies, both in society and within the organisation'
-- Fataneh Farahani, Professor in Ethnology, Stockholm University'Women of Komala is a groundbreaking contribution in the field of Kurdish Studies. It brilliantly provides meticulous research that intertwines gender, class, national, and political struggle in Kurdistan, centering on women's role through the political turmoil leading up to and after the 1979 revolution in Iran'
-- Pedram Baldari, Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Art and Design, University of Michigan'Caught between the murderous onslaught of the Islamic Republic, the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88), and their highly traditional families, a generation of brave Kurdish women joined Komala in the villages and mountains of Kurdistan to fight for both autonomy and gender equality. Yet despite all these sacrifices, they have never received equal recognition, not even in death. This is a remarkable story, beautifully translated from French. Fatemeh Karimi should be commended for her outstanding telling of it, which together with the many anecdotes and interviews she brings, provide a vivid real-life texture to this story'
-- Janet Afary, Distinguished Professor, author of Sexual Politics in Modern Iran'A fascinating book which brings timely insights into Kurdish Iranian women’s political activism and struggles. Karimi’s in-depth research and thoughtful analysis shine new light on how gender shapes political movements and revolutions in Iran'
-- Jane Freedman, Professor, Université ParISBN: 9780745350820
Dimensions: 216mm x 140mm x 18mm
Weight: unknown
256 pages