Imam Khamenei's Criticism of Western Capitalism's Deception of Women: Exploitation Under the Mask of Humanitarian Theories

Noting that the hidden purpose of the slogan of freeing American slaves nearly two centuries ago was to drag slaves from southern farms to factories in the north of that country, Ayatollah Khamenei said: "Today, behind feminist slogans and women's freedom and rights, there are inhuman and political goals, some of which are already clear, and some goals will be revealed later."

This morning, during a meeting with thousands of women and girls, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution called Hazrat Zahra, the daughter of the Prophet of Islam, one of the wonders of creation and, referring to the important principles of Islam’s regulations on women, emphasized: “In Islam, men and women complement each other, and there is no difference between them in their intellectual and spiritual abilities and efforts to achieve a good life in the fields of science, culture, art, social affairs, and economic activities and international affairs.”

At the beginning of his speech, the respected leader of the Islamic Revolution congratulated Hazrat Fatima Zahra, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, on her birthday, and described the meeting with women and girls as very good and enthusiastic.

Capitalists and the women's problem

Ayatollah Khamenei, addressing the different perspectives on women's issues in the world, said: "Capitalism and its subordinate politicians, controlling the world's most influential media outlets, through dishonesty and lies, hide their criminal and corrupt motives under the guise of philosophical and humanitarian theory to interfere in the affairs of the international community of women and to direct them and to obtain illicit benefits." 

The esteemed leader, considering dishonesty and hypocrisy to be the usual practice of Western colonialists and capitalists, called the involvement of women in factories to provide cheap labor to industrial needs under the guise of women's freedom and independence an example of that dishonesty and hypocrisy. 

Noting that the hidden purpose of the slogan of freeing American slaves nearly two centuries ago was to drag slaves from southern farms to factories in the north of that country, Ayatollah Khamenei said: "Today, behind feminist slogans and women's freedom and rights, there are inhuman and political goals, some of which are already clear, and some goals will be revealed later."

Islam and women

The Leader of the Revolution called the issue of marriage the first important principle of Islam's women's code and added: "According to numerous verses of the Quran, men and women are of the same sex, are partners, and complement each other."

Ayatollah Khamenei called the necessity of marriage and the complementarity of a man and a woman the formation of a third unit called family and said: "Forming a family is a divine tradition of creation, and fortunately, in Iranian culture, loving family is an important sign of the cultural strength and depth of the people."

Noting that another principle of Islam’s regulations regarding women is “there is no difference between men and women in spiritual movement, human dignity, and the attainment of a good life,” the Leader of the Revolution said: “From the perspective of Islam, men and women, despite their physical differences, both have infinite abilities, intellectual and practical capacities, which enables women to play a role similar to men and be in demand in various scientific, political, social, economic, international, cultural, and artistic fields.”

He considered "the spiritual value of motherhood and pride in it" from the perspective of Islam as another pillar and added: "Today, some, under the shadow of the policies of capitalists, colonialists and independent societies, especially the ill-wishers of our society, present a bad image of "motherhood". Although motherhood and raising a person is a very valuable honor, and it is on this basis that Islam, in various interpretations, such as paradise is under the feet of mothers  , has greatly recommended loving, serving and obeying mothers."

Women after the Islamic Revolution

After listing some of the important principles of Islamic law regarding women, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "The astonishing growth of believing, knowledgeable, and active women in Iran since the victory of the Islamic Revolution is based on this noble consideration."

Noting that the growth of female scientists, female university professors, female writers, poets, and artists while maintaining their religious beliefs is not comparable to the pre-revolutionary period, the esteemed leader said, “Of course, the enemy has not been sitting idle and is busy with programming, because they realized very early that it is not possible to defeat and bring the revolution to its knees by instrumental methods such as war, bombing, ethnicity, and insurgent forces, so they resorted to programmatic methods, that is, propaganda, seduction, and dishonest slogans.”

The question of resistance

In the final part of his speech, the Leader of the Revolution, referring to regional issues, noted: "With the operation in Syria and the crimes of the Zionist regime and the US, and the support they received from others, the enemies believe that the task of resistance is over, while they are sadly mistaken."

Stressing that the souls of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Sinwar are alive, the esteemed leader added: "Their bodies are gone, but martyrdom did not remove them from the realm of existence, and their path continues."

Referring to Gaza's resistance to the daily Zionist attacks and Lebanon's continued resistance, Ayatollah Khamenei said: "The Zionist regime, in its opinion, is preparing to encircle and eradicate Hezbollah in Lebanon through Syria, but the one who will be eradicated is Israel."

Before the revolutionary leader's speech, six activists working on women's and girls' issues gave speeches on the topics of "The Revolutionary Muslim Woman Model," "Cyberspace, Women, Family, and Children," "Solving the Population Issue by Strengthening the Foundation of the Family," "Developing Women Artists and Women's Theater," "Easing the Problem of Marriage and Intercession," and "Reforming the Curriculum of Female Students to Strengthen Cultural Identity."

Also, Mrs. Aede Sorour, mother of two Lebanese martyrs, delivered a speech on behalf of the Women of the Resistance Axis, during which she spoke about the continuation and victory of the resistance.