What do you think?
Rate this book
Unveiled: One Woman's Nightmare in Iran
This harrowing true story of life in modern Iran is told from the unique perspective of a foreign journalist and Islamic bride. Born in Iran but schooled in the West at Oxford, Cherry Mosteshar returns to her homeland with the aim of explaining her country to the world.
As a member of the wealthy elite, she observes firsthand the prevalence of Western influence prior to the overthrow of the Shah in 1979. However, the religious revolution transforms the country into an extremely conservative Islamic state overnight, and the societal ramifications - especially for women - are shocking. A woman now has a price, that of half a man. Her children belong to her for only the first seven years of their lives. If she refuses to wear the full-length chador, she is branded a whore.
Mosteshar describes this demeaning treatment of women through her own struggle with a very traditional husband who is domineering, unyielding, and cruel. Soon after they wed, Mosteshar discovers that he never divorced his first wife. We watch a bright, articulate, spirited woman try to maintain her personal and professional identity as her husband physically and emotionally abuses her. Mosteshar finds herself trapped in a nightmarish life she had previously only witnessed from afar. She eventually escapes - but at the price of having to leave her country.
As a member of the wealthy elite, she observes firsthand the prevalence of Western influence prior to the overthrow of the Shah in 1979. However, the religious revolution transforms the country into an extremely conservative Islamic state overnight, and the societal ramifications - especially for women - are shocking. A woman now has a price, that of half a man. Her children belong to her for only the first seven years of their lives. If she refuses to wear the full-length chador, she is branded a whore.
Mosteshar describes this demeaning treatment of women through her own struggle with a very traditional husband who is domineering, unyielding, and cruel. Soon after they wed, Mosteshar discovers that he never divorced his first wife. We watch a bright, articulate, spirited woman try to maintain her personal and professional identity as her husband physically and emotionally abuses her. Mosteshar finds herself trapped in a nightmarish life she had previously only witnessed from afar. She eventually escapes - but at the price of having to leave her country.
462 pages, Hardcover
First published January 19, 1995
9 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 31, 2012
I could not understand how a strong willed woman could fall victim to a cruel Muslim man until I remembered all the women in the US who are victims of domestic abuse...it's similar! I'm just glad she had the opportunity to go back to England; not all women in the middle east have that option.
July 9, 2019
Well I did write it so I must love it
October 27, 2024
Unveiled – by Cherry Mosteshar – Completed 10/23/2024
To my wife, J.E.M.; children, B.J.M.; A.N.C.; T.L.L. and their spouses.
This morning coffee book will give you a view of the country of Iran and the Iranian people. We, as Americans value our freedoms, speech, movement, religion, and voting, and yet so many young people are willing to vote them away. Do they see through the lies, and statements of no-action as a destruction of this country and the freedoms associated with it? Iran doesn’t have these freedoms. Women are second-class citizens and are valued less. They are told how to dress, when to speak, they cannot laugh or dance, and told when to “service” their man. The author was ultra-rich under the Shaw of Iran and was educated in England where she learned the freedoms. Returning to Iran and marrying an Iranian, she discovered she had given up many freedoms. It took her a while to realize what she had given up. So why are so many young people willing to denounce freedoms here in America?
Maybe I am thinking about this wrong. Should America impose our way of life on others and try to establish a society that disagrees with us? Hates us. What if America had the same values as the Iranian people, our constitution was thrown in the trash. What if our women had to be covered up, forcing them to wear a hijab or the trash bag-looking Chador, and who would be the morality police? How can a husband whip his wife for talking back? Islam says he can beat her, just not around the face or leave a mark. Now there is an idea for America… Just Kidding.
Adding Islam into America as it is in Iran, would cause a major revolt among women (and men) that would make the “Me Too” movement look like an elementary grade school play. There are enough issues here in America that women have been subjected to over the years, we do not need to add a more extreme value such as militant Islam. When we see things wrong that don’t conform to the American way, we want to project our values and beliefs on them. The truth is Islam hasn’t lasted thousands of years because it lacked support. We believe and know America is a better way of life with the freedoms and rights that come with it.
Why else would millions be invading our borders to get here. We know the Democrats have caused this problem looking for a new voter base. Vote them out of office.
God Bless the United States of America.
Love Dad, T.R.M.
To my wife, J.E.M.; children, B.J.M.; A.N.C.; T.L.L. and their spouses.
This morning coffee book will give you a view of the country of Iran and the Iranian people. We, as Americans value our freedoms, speech, movement, religion, and voting, and yet so many young people are willing to vote them away. Do they see through the lies, and statements of no-action as a destruction of this country and the freedoms associated with it? Iran doesn’t have these freedoms. Women are second-class citizens and are valued less. They are told how to dress, when to speak, they cannot laugh or dance, and told when to “service” their man. The author was ultra-rich under the Shaw of Iran and was educated in England where she learned the freedoms. Returning to Iran and marrying an Iranian, she discovered she had given up many freedoms. It took her a while to realize what she had given up. So why are so many young people willing to denounce freedoms here in America?
Maybe I am thinking about this wrong. Should America impose our way of life on others and try to establish a society that disagrees with us? Hates us. What if America had the same values as the Iranian people, our constitution was thrown in the trash. What if our women had to be covered up, forcing them to wear a hijab or the trash bag-looking Chador, and who would be the morality police? How can a husband whip his wife for talking back? Islam says he can beat her, just not around the face or leave a mark. Now there is an idea for America… Just Kidding.
Adding Islam into America as it is in Iran, would cause a major revolt among women (and men) that would make the “Me Too” movement look like an elementary grade school play. There are enough issues here in America that women have been subjected to over the years, we do not need to add a more extreme value such as militant Islam. When we see things wrong that don’t conform to the American way, we want to project our values and beliefs on them. The truth is Islam hasn’t lasted thousands of years because it lacked support. We believe and know America is a better way of life with the freedoms and rights that come with it.
Why else would millions be invading our borders to get here. We know the Democrats have caused this problem looking for a new voter base. Vote them out of office.
God Bless the United States of America.
Love Dad, T.R.M.
January 13, 2025
На мен книгата ми допадна много, основно, защото мога да видя през очите на иранка персийската душа, да науча и почувствам техните традиции и възприятия към света. От друга страна, книгата дава информация за "съвременен" Иран и как религията може да провали едно цивилизовано общество. Казвам религията, а не вярата, съвсем умишлено, защото всяка религия, попаднала под интерпретация на тесногръдието, може да бъде манипулирана да осъжда безнаказано и да опрощава също така, само в услуга на някои части от обществото. Това, което се случва с жените там, е нечовешко. Когато корените ти принадлежат на една култура, съвсем обяснимо е да те тегли натам, но... свободата да притежаваш собственото си тяло и да не бъдеш употребявана като инструмент, трябва да бъде част от всяко развито общество. А за персийците може да се каже всичко друго, но не и че не са дали много на цивилизацията. Нека като хора не допускаме никъде да се случва това, защото насилието ражда само насилие, а страхът води до телесна и духовна тъпота...
January 3, 2021
Interesting insight into how Iran changed from the 1970's-1980's and how a smart, well educated and well off woman became influenced by her suroundings and made some less than stellar choices.
November 6, 2021
Incredibly interesting subject, but sadly I really struggled with the writing style.
July 21, 2014
What is passing for culture in the Middle East is puzzling and fascinating to Westerners, as the Koran is used to push women into sacks and back rooms, and this behavior is described as honoring and protecting womanhood. Mosteshar's story is interesting, althugh I admit I became a little irritated at some of her positions. She is honest about having been raised in a very priveleged lifestyle, but she did train to be a journalist. FOr that reason I expected her to be objective and rational in her thought patterns. Her personal decisions are puzzling when she makes it clear she led a very liberated lifestyle in England. It seems she returned to an Iran that she had romanticized, and discovered her culture had been twisted into something she didn't recognize. Then she tried to adopt the lifestyle Iran was redesigning and fell into several bad decisions—one of which was to marry a man without vetting him thoroughly. As the book ends her situation has not been resolved, although she has escaped back to England.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews