Statements in Meeting with Thousands of Elite Women Active in Various Fields

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

First of all, I congratulate you dear sisters and my beloved daughters on the auspicious birth of the great lady and the shining figure of all human history among women, Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her). I also congratulate you on the coincidence of this great day with the birth of our dear and esteemed Imam - who is also a turning point in the view of Islamic foundations in all areas, including the issue concerning women.

Today was a good session. In my view, this session was very good, useful, and pleasant; both for me and for those who will later learn about this session and see its report. I listened to the statements of the esteemed women for almost two hours. The main purpose was this; that is, two objectives were pursued in holding this session: one was to publicly raise some issues that are important to them from the voices of selected women from the society; especially regarding topics related to women, and this was accomplished. All the speakers today had high, strong, logical, organized minds and were knowledgeable in the topics they presented; this was very desirable and interesting for me. I noted a summary or reference to the remarks of these ladies here, which will be useful for me later, God willing. The points raised - especially some of them - were very profound and noteworthy. This is one purpose and objective.

The second purpose is the symbolic view of this session. As I have mentioned many times, we are demanding from the world regarding women; we claim the world. Now, whether institutions affiliated with the United Nations or others or a certain group of journalists come to question issues like hijab and some of these matters in the name of human rights, this does not change the reality of the matter. We are demanding from the world. By the world, I mean the Western world. We are the ones who address the world and say: you have betrayed humanity in general and women in particular; by dragging women and men into the realm of sexual temptations and igniting and exacerbating the fire of excessive, unlawful, and disorderly sexual behaviors in society, by bringing women into the public sphere in an exposed manner. It is clear that women are the beautiful part of human creation. This beautiful part is naturally accompanied by a little modesty; this is the characteristic of this beautiful and delicate aspect of human existence. Ripping this veil and promoting what should be pursued with order and law - that primal human need, whether in women or men - in an unlawful and disorderly manner in society is the greatest betrayal that has primarily been done to women and subsequently to all humanity - both women and men; this has been done by Western policies. Of course, they themselves have suffered the first and greatest harm. Now, the issue of homosexuality in the Western world is one of the afflictions. Of course, they do not openly acknowledge it; but the truth is that today it has become one of the great and incurable pains for thinkers and others; they have no solution. Acting in such a way, bringing forth such literature that is both revealing and naked regarding sexual issues and the relationship between women and men, bringing forth women - that is, the beautiful, delicate, and veiled aspect of human existence - for work, for advertising, for labor, using her smile, her beauty, her body, her face to promote a worthless and lowly gender, to earn money, these things also follow suit; it is natural. These actions have been carried out by the Western world, these actions have been done by Western policies; it is not related to religions, nor to Christianity or Judaism; it is related to new policies that have been prevalent for about one hundred and fifty years - I cannot specify exactly - in the world.

You can see the literature of European countries in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and their view of women; it is completely different from what is seen in the twentieth century and in the writings and literature of the twentieth century regarding women, which they have pursued. Their view back then was more noble, more modest, and more appropriate to the nature of women and men. It becomes clear that this political action has been from the Zionists, from the colonialist apparatus; this requires research and work. This has gradually intensified day by day until it has reached the situation you observe today. Therefore, the Western world must be held accountable; because they have struck women; they have violated women's rights; they have diminished the value of women; they have betrayed her in the name of support. This is what we have.

Regarding Islamic rights, some ladies made statements that are correct; there is ample room for work and explanation. I confirm the points made by some of the ladies and say that we have not done a proper, strong, substantial, and high-quality job in confronting opposing propaganda - including feminist propaganda - as we should have. From here, I recommend and demand that research institutions, research centers, universities, seminaries, and experts work in this area. This issue is important. If we work well on the issue of women in our country, this is a true service to women in the entire world; it is a genuine service to the collective of women all over the world. Now, some may understand the value of this service today, some may understand it years later; but if we work well, this service is for them.

What I want to say consists of two or three brief points that I have noted down to express; I will mention those.

One is that the very existence of this group of elite women in various fields - and all elite women are not limited to this gathering; you are a sample of women elites across the country - indicates the success of the Islamic system's view and Islam's view of women. We did not have this many elite women during the reign of the tyrants. This is my statement, and I insist on it. Today, the absolute and relative number of female researchers, female professors, female scientists in various fields, female thinkers and writers, female literati, female poets, female artists - storytellers, poets, painters - is significantly greater than during the tyrannical era; that is, the era when, in the name of supporting women, they completely eradicated hijab and chastity and the existence of a distance between men and women, and they promoted this lawlessness day by day; even in some cases, they acted worse and more aggressively than in European countries. Today, we have this vast number of intellectual, scientific, practical, politically active, and culturally and artistically knowledgeable elite women under the cover of hijab, under chador, under headscarves in the Islamic Republic system. At that time, we did not even have some parts and aspects of this collection; they were very limited. This revives a theory that is exactly the opposite of what they intended to convey, and that is that the quality of promoting lawlessness not only does not mean the growth of women, the spirituality of women, the talents of women, but rather distracting women with what the requirements of that lifestyle are - various makeups and various side entanglements that these actions have - itself hinders the movement towards the perfection and elevation of women.

In the Islamic system, the limitations that arise, which are according to the feminine human nature; there are also limitations for men, in a certain way; and for women, in another way, help ensure that their energies do not go to waste and, as much as possible, are directed correctly; which then results in intellectual, scientific, and practical growth in the community of women, which we are witnessing today. This is the first point. The claim that was made - and of course, some still say it with complete ignorance - can a society of women grow with hijab and adherence to Islamic and legal limits, what happens to the issue of women in the Islamic system? The practical answer, the tangible answer to this, is the very existence of this vast group of elite women in our society, which we have never had such a situation in the country; we did not have it during the tyrannical era, nor before that when the education and training situation was flawed in another way. Today, in the Islamic system, thanks be to God, this is provided. Now, the greater number of selected girls in universities and the like are secondary issues; the primary issue is that this very group of elite women has been able to shine in various sectors in the Islamic Republic.

Another point is that we observe in our country that some female activists and some men are trying to align with international conventions related to women and play around with Islamic rulings and adjust them; this is wrong. I do not want to say that everything mentioned in our jurisprudence regarding women's rulings is necessarily the final word; no, it is possible that through research in a field conducted by a skilled and knowledgeable jurist, a certain legal ruling that exists today regarding women may change; this is not an issue; this is possible and has happened. In the same issue of women's inheritance from land and real estate - which the lady mentioned - the jurisprudential opinion of some of the great scholars of the past and today, our own jurisprudential opinion is that what is prevented from inheritance is undoubtedly the value of that land, which is the right of the wife and spouse, and she inherits; there is no problem. Therefore, in jurisprudential matters, such a thing is possible that we say this changes; but what must be done in the field of jurisprudential matters is jurisprudential work by a skilled and knowledgeable jurist based on jurisprudential principles; not that someone, according to their own desires, to align with them, to harmonize with a certain international treaty, a certain international convention - whose creators are fundamentally ideologically different from the people living in this land with Islamic principles - comes and cuts and trims from the corners of Islamic rulings; this is completely wrong; it is not defensible at all. Undoubtedly, what has been established in Islamic rulings and Islamic jurisprudence according to the interests is precisely these, and this is correct; which becomes clear through careful examination in various areas.

Dear sisters, those who are active in women's issues and think and observe shortcomings, should not see the remedy in altering Islamic jurisprudential rulings; no, Islamic jurisprudential rulings, where they have been derived through research and are in accordance with Islamic principles, are completely correct and in accordance with interests. We should not, because in a certain international assembly, in a certain international conference, a certain decision has been made and a certain international convention has emerged, come and, with a narrow-minded and fear-mixed perspective, alter our thoughts and our jurisprudence; this, in my opinion, is also incorrect.

Another point that was repeated in the statements of the sisters is that in the issue of women, what is of primary importance is the issue of "family"; the role of women as a member of the family. In my opinion, of all the roles that women can play, this is the most important. Of course, some people reject such statements vehemently at first and say, "Sir, you want to imprison women in the house, confine them, prevent them from participating in the scenes of life and activity"; no, this is not our intention at all; Islam has not desired this either. When Islam says: "And the believers, both men and women, are allies of one another; they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong," it means that believers, both men and women, are partners in preserving the social system and enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong; it has not excluded women. We cannot exclude women either. The responsibility of managing the Islamic society and advancing the Islamic society rests on everyone; on women, on men; each according to their own abilities. The discussion is not whether women can have responsibilities outside the home or not - of course they can, there is no doubt about it; the Islamic view does not deny this at all - the discussion is whether women have the right to eliminate their role in the family for all the desirable, interesting, and sweet things that may be imagined for them outside the family environment? Their role as a mother, their role as a wife? Do they have the right or not? We emphasize this role. I say the most important role that a woman can play at any level of knowledge, education, research, and spirituality is the role she can play as a mother and as a wife; this is more important than all her other tasks; this is the task that no one else can perform except for women. Even if this woman has another important responsibility - let her have it - but she must regard this responsibility as her primary and main responsibility. The survival of the human species and the growth and flourishing of the inner talents of humans depend on this; the preservation of the mental health of society depends on this; tranquility and peace in the face of restlessness and turmoil depend on this; we must not forget this.

It is not an art for women to imitate men's work; no, women have a feminine role that is more valuable than any masculine work. Today, suspicious hands have launched an anti-value wave in the world - which exists everywhere, unfortunately seen in our country in corners and corners - they want to compel women to become men! They consider it a disgrace for women that why certain tasks are done by men, not by women! Is this a disgrace? The view on this matter is a wrong view. They criticize that why you say a woman is a woman; a man is a man. Well, is it not so? Do you want us to come and say a woman is a man; then a synthetic man; a second copy of a man! What honor is this for women? The honor for women is to be a woman; a complete woman, a complete feminine. In terms of high-value assessments, if we look, this value - being a complete woman - is not less than being a complete man; in some cases, it is certainly higher and more significant. Why should we lose this?

Of course, there are responsibilities that are shared. As we said, the responsibility of participating in society and understanding the general pains of society and striving to remedy the general pains of society is not exclusive to men or women; women cannot shirk this responsibility either. If women must do something in this regard, they certainly must - there is no limitation - but there are also specific responsibilities, meaning the tasks that God Almighty has assigned to women according to their nature, which are important.

In any case, you are the elite women of the country; whether those who are at the beginning of their careers - or are students, or are in the early stages of work - or those who have worked for several years, exerted effort. Know that today the responsibility of women in our country is heavy. The additional responsibility you have today is to correct the wrong view of the issue of women and men. The view that the Western world is trying to convey regarding women and men is a wrong view, a false view; this will lead to the trampling of many values in human societies, which is already being shown in some corners, seen, and in our societies, even more so. This view must be corrected. Of course, let me also say; the slogans and mental fabrications of the Westerners regarding women have never been able to prevent the oppression that has been inflicted on women both inside and outside the family throughout history - which still continues. If we assume that it is possible to prevent the oppression of women in a society - which this oppression also has natural and coercive causes - it can only be achieved through ethics, law, and the refinement and improvement of men. But today in the West, there is absolutely no news of this. The abuse of women, various physical pressures, and psychological abuse against women in the West, the statistics they are currently providing, are far greater than in our country and from places we are aware of. Therefore, they have not been able to prevent that problem, and on this side, they have created so many damages.

We must have a comprehensive view of the issue of women, and this comprehensive view exists in Islam. The issue of valuing the essence of women, being a woman, is a high value for women; it is a principle. I do not consider imitating men to be a value for women; just as imitating women is not a value for men. Each has a role, each has a place, each has a status, and each has a nature, and a purpose has been intended from their specific situation in the wise divine creation that this purpose must be fulfilled; this issue is important.

Today, you ladies can play a role in this regard; both research, writing, promoting, and practically demonstrating. Of course, I have said this many times, and I say it now; in our societies - that is, Islamic societies and our Iranian society - unfortunately, like Western societies, there has been an injustice in the family relationships between women and men; mainly related to within the family; this must be stopped. Some of it is possible with advice; some of it is not possible with advice, and must be stopped with the force of law. Women are oppressed. Men, because of their physical strength and some other characteristics, have more abilities, in some cases, misuse these abilities and bully; this must be stopped. This can be achieved through law; of course, as we mentioned, it can also be achieved through the refinement and ethics of men.

The image of the quality of interaction between women and men in Islamic ethics and Islamic law must also be worked on more. Some are religious, but because they are not properly familiar with Islamic concepts and do not understand the ethics related to the relationships between women and men in Islam, their religiosity does not reduce their severity, nor does it diminish their bullying; no, they are both religious and have those harshness and bullying; this must also be corrected. Islamic ethics in the relationships between women and men - especially within the family - must be given attention. Of course, the issue of hijab is very important. I truly consider the issue of hijab to be important. The significance of the issue of hijab manifests itself in various indirect ways; including in the family issue itself.

In any case, we are very pleased with today's meeting. We thank God that so many good sisters are active in these areas; you are thinkers and workers. We hope that day by day, God will increase your successes.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.