Queen ¹ú²ú´«Ã½ ’s remembers Professor Forough Jahanbakhsh

In memoriam

Queen ¹ú²ú´«Ã½ ’s remembers Professor Forough Jahanbakhsh

The associate professor in the School of Religion had been teaching at Queen ¹ú²ú´«Ã½ ’s since 2002.

November 28, 2025

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The Queen ¹ú²ú´«Ã½ ’s community is remembering Associate Professor Forough Jahanbakhsh, who passed away Nov. 14 after complications related to a long-term illness. Dr. Jahanbakhsh is best known for her book Islam, Democracy and Religious Modernism in Iran (1953–2000), which remains widely cited for its examination of Iranian reformist thinkers and the evolving trajectory of religious reform in Iran. She joined ¹ú²ú´«Ã½ in July 2002 and taught courses on Islam and modernity, contributing significantly to the School of Religion ¹ú²ú´«Ã½ ’s curriculum and to the intellectual growth of countless students. She is part of a generation of scholars analyzing how Iranian reformist thinkers grappled with modernity, pluralism, and democratic theory through Islamic frameworks.

The School of Religion notes that Dr. Jahanbakhsh ¹ú²ú´«Ã½ ’s contributions to the study of religion and mentorship of students have left a lasting impact on generations of students and colleagues on campus. Her kindness, generosity, and commitment to her field will be deeply missed.

In Memoriam