Thursday, July 5, 2007

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei views on women in Islam

Islam's emphasis on women's family role never means it refuses their presence in other parts of society

Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei told an elite assembly of Iranian women Wednesday that in Islam's view, the responsibility of running the society and country falls on every individual men and women alike whereas the prime assignment of women at every social status lies in the foundation of family.

Ayatollah Khamenei extended congratulations to the audience on the auspicious birth anniversary of the grand woman of all time, Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (Allah's peace be upon her) which coincides the birth anniversary of the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini, may Allah confer mercy on him.

"Islam's emphasis on women's family role never means it refuses their presence in other parts of society rather it is meant to prioritize the maternal and spousal role against other social functions especially when the survival and spiritual development of the mankind and the well being of society is a tribute to fruition of their function," the IR Leader said.

The Islamic Revolution Leader considered the large elite woman population in the country as proof to substantiate the views of Islam and the Islamic Republic regarding the women issue.

"No time ever the country has enjoyed such a scale of female researchers, scientists, intellectuals, authors, artists or activists as it does today. It shows that the Islamic views about Hijab never bar women from progress or sublimity rather they serve their talents and facilitate their growth," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

Ayatollah Khamenei was critical about the western views which run afar women's innate calls and treat them as if they are a second hand copy of men. "The views in fact belittle women. However, sometimes a perfect woman proves worthier than a perfect man," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

Ayatollah Khamenei urged the country's elite women to rectify the false western views towards women, adding that in Islam's view, being woman is a merit originally and that women and men have their own status and role in the sagacious Divine Creation.

Ayatollah Khamenei described the Western manipulative treatment of women as oppression against the human community and betrayal of women rights.

"Woman is the gorgeous, fine, draped part of the Creation. The deadliest sin westerners are accountable for is that they demoted woman to a tool for publicity of commodities, money raising or awry sexualities, making incurable problems to befall on human community," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

The IR Leader criticized the scattered efforts for the alignment of Islam Statute with women-related foreign conventions, adding however that some of the women-related decrees developed in jurisprudence were not the final say so that a seasoned, parameter-oriented jurisprudential research could derive newer points out of the Statute.

"Nevertheless, the attempt of several west-fascinated individuals to add to or cut part of the Islamic Statute or align them with some of the international conventions is absolutely wrong," the IR Leader said.

Ayatollah Khamenei appealed to the country's research bodies, universities and jurisprudential schools to provide quality argument against feminist views and propagandas. The IR Leader described the undertaking as a true service to all women in the world.

The IR Leader deplored maltreatment of family relations practiced in different countries in the world, adding that men are not allowed to bully women within families or oppress them by abuse of their physical might or other male characteristics.

"Islamic ethics in family discourage men from bullying women. Nonetheless, ground must be prepared for due family relations either through consultation or law," the IR Leader said.

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