No gender-based view restricts social, political participation of women

Ayatollah Khamenei received hundreds of women and girls ahead of the national Mother’s Day which marks the birth anniversary of Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (SA) and detailed the views of Islam and those of the Islamic Republic regarding the rights and responsibilities of women and girls in different arenas, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

The Leader in this meeting held on Wednesday morning hailed Hazrat Zahra (AS) as the best role model Muslim women could follow calling on them to follow the example of the lady in social and political arenas as well as their pursuit of knowledge.

The Leader highlighted meritocracy as sole scale based on which social and political responsibilities should be handed in to people and said,” If there is an experienced and efficient woman for ministerial or parliamentary positions, then Islam sets no restriction for women to achieve the position.”

According to Ayatollah Khamenei, equally to men, the way for social participation of women is open if two issues are maintained: family responsibilities and protection from sexual-related threats.

The Leader emphasized the identity, values, rights, responsibilities, freedoms and restrictions of women and touched upon two contrasting approaches: western and Islamic.

Ayatollah Khamenei said,” The west lacks any rational discourse when it comes to women and endeavors to promote its views through hiring political and non-political figures, instrumental use of the arts, literature and cyberspace or thought international organizations related to women.”
The Leader hailed the Islamic approach on the topic of women as rational and deductive, in contrast with those of the west and said,” Islamic view on women is an advantage and we should not stand responsive on that.”

Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated the social arena as another filed for equally active role of women and men.

The Leader also said the way to settle the domestic violence is to pass laws and set sever punishment for the perpetrators and vowed to issue orders for serious punishment for men who threaten the security and peace at home.

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to importance of hijab in Islam and said,” Hijab does not stand for restriction rather it is meant to guarantee security for women.”

The Leader lauded the remarkable multipled advancement of women under the Islamic Republic in comparison with women in pre-revolution era.

Ten women activists and elites also delivered speech in this meeting and explained their views and proposals on different topics among them Zinat Zakzaky, mother of six martyrs and wife of the leader of Shia community in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and Asra al-Buhaisi, correspondent of the Arab-language state television channel, al-Alam, who spoke from Gaza via video call.