Elaheh Koulaei

Elaheh Koulaei (; born 17 December 1956) is an Iranian professor of political science, political scientist, reformist politician, and intellectual. She was a Member of the sixth Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran from 2000 to 2004.

She has spoken out against child marriage in Iran, the compulsory hijab in Iran, and the Iran government's crackdown on the 2025–2026 Iranian protests.

Early and personal life

Koulaei was born in Tehran, Iran, on 17 December 1956.

In 1982 she received a bachelor's degree in political science from the National University of Iran (Shahid Beheshti University) in Tehran.

Professor

Koulaei is a professor of political science at Tehran University, at which she has taught since 1986. There, she is the founder and the Director of the Center for Central Eurasia Studies (CCES) from 2005 to present, and was the director of the Regional Studies Department at the Faculty of Law and Political Science from 2007 to 2010 and 2015–19. was one of 13 women who won a position in the 290-member body, and was a member of the sixth parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2000–2004). Koulaei was also a member and speaker of the Commission on National Security and Foreign Policy of Iran.

Koulaei was head of the Iran-Russia Parliamentarian Friendship Group in Iran in 2003.

In January 2004, Iran's Guardian Council ruled that Koulaei was disqualified as a candidate for reelection to Iran's parliament. It asserted that her "‘belief and commitment to Islam, the Islamic Republic, Velayat-e Faqih (the office of the Supreme Leader), and the constitution" was in question .

Commenting on the compulsory hijab in Iran, Koulaei said "It is not possible to promote Islamic values with jailing and lashing..... The parliament should take an action to reform the law of obligatory hijab. Introducing these reforms at the right time is undoubtedly common sense."

In 2024 she co-signed a letter that said "The repressive policies against women under the pretext of compulsory hijab are ... an attempt to distract public attention from rampant corruption and inept social administration."

Koulaei was among hundreds of academic faculty who signed a letter condemning the Iran government's crackdown on the 2025–2026 Iranian protests, and the government's failure to prevent a future attack on Iran by the United States and Israel in response to the crackdown.