Islamic Law in Post-revolutionary Iran
This article examines Islamic law in post-revolutionary Iran, with particular emphasis on areas where Islamic and Iranian law intersect. Before discussing the various manifestations of Islam in Iran, it traces the history of Iran’s adoption of Islamized laws. It then turns to the nature and history of the post-revolutionary Iranian constitution and constitutional law, along with the efforts of Iranian Islamic reformists and thinkers to conceptualize Islam so as to accommodate popular representation and adaptability to changing social and cultural preferences. It also considers the relationship between conformity to Shi‘a law (and/or its governmentally endorsed interpretations) on the one hand, and the exigencies of a modern state—including some responsiveness to popular and parliamentary demands for legal reform—on the other. Finally, the article looks at various areas where Islamic law intersects with Iranian law.