Why it matters:
Iran’s Leader emphasized the elevated position of women in Islam, noting that 'the Quran offers the most progressive descriptions of women’s identity and character.' He stressed that women stand equal to men in a wide range of social roles and that opportunities for their advancement in an Islamic society remain fully open. He also likened women to a 'flower,' underscoring the importance of care and affection—particularly from husbands—as a fundamental right of women within the home.
The big picture:
Ayatollah Khamenei, in a meeting with a large gathering of women and girls, spoke about the character of Hazrat Zahra (SA). He also emphasized the importance of the status of women in society, stressing the logic of the Quran, and mentioned the Western and capitalist view of women to be completely rejected from the perspective of Islam.
He identified two exemplary women—Maryam and Asiya—as role models and benchmarks for all believing men and women, presenting them as figures who underscore the centrality of a woman’s intellect and conduct. He characterized Western views and practices regarding women as leading not to liberation but to a form of enslavement, and he cautioned the media against echoing or amplifying Western narratives.
What he's saying:
- "In Islam, women have equal rights with men in social activities, business, political participation, access to most governmental positions, and other fields. The path for their spiritual growth, as well as their individual and public advancement, is fully open."
- "In Islam, in order to preserve the dignity of women and to restrain powerful and potentially harmful sexual desires, there are certain restrictions and rulings regarding interactions between men and women, attire for both genders, women’s hijab, and the encouragement of marriage. These are fully aligned with the nature of women and the genuine interests and needs of society. In contrast, the control of endless and destructive sexual impulses receives virtually no attention in Western culture."
- "Women’s social rights, such as equal pay with men for the same work, insurance coverage for working women or female heads of households, special leave for women, and dozens of other issues, must be upheld without discrimination."
- "Another important and fundamental right of women in the home is the rejection of any form of violence against them, and the complete avoidance of practices common in the West, such as the killing or beating of women by men and husbands."
- "Iran has never, in its entire history, had even one percent of the number of female scholars, thinkers, and intellectuals it has today. It was the Islamic Republic that enabled the advancement and progress of women in all key fields."
- "In Islam, women possess independence, capability, identity, and the opportunity for progress. In contrast, the capitalist view reduces women to dependency, dissolves their identity into that of men, disregards their dignity, and treats them as material objects and instruments of lust and pleasure, a mentality that has produced the criminal gangs that have recently drawn significant attention in the United States."
Go deeper:
Iran's Leader: US, Israeli Perception of Resistance Ending Is Wrong
F.abedi - A.Akbari
