Shadi Mokhtari

Shadi Mokhtari is a Professor at the School of International Service at American University in Washington D.C., specializing in human rights, Middle East politics, and political Islam. Her work bridges interdisciplinary scholarship, including human rights studies, international relations, and Middle East area studies. She holds a PhD & LLM from York University, JD from the University of Texas, MIA from Columbia University, and BA from American University.

Her research focuses on human rights dynamics in Middle Eastern protest movements and political transitions, particularly in Iran, Egypt, Tunisia, and Jordan. A key project explores how human rights frameworks are perceived as mockery, moral expression, or a moral dilemma in the region. Her 2009 book After Abu Ghraib won the APSA Human Rights Section Best Book Award. Current courses include 'Justice, Ethics & Human Rights,' 'Rights and Political Change in the Middle East,' and 'Post-Revolutionary Iran.'

• Education: PhD & LLM (York U), JD (UT), MIA (Columbia), BA (American U)
• Research Themes: Human rights in authoritarian contexts, Islamic frameworks for rights, and transnational advocacy

Her recent work analyzes how Middle Eastern actors navigate global human rights norms, emphasizing localized interpretations. She has published extensively on Iran’s Green Movement, Arab Spring dynamics, and the evolving role of human rights in U.S.-Middle East relations.

• Awards: 2010 APSA Best Book Award for After Abu Ghraib
• Teaching: Courses focus on justice, ethics, and regional political transformations