Hundreds of scholars and outstanding personalities exchanged views on the issue of women and family with Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution. Speaking at the meeting, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed that the issue of women and family are among primary issues of the country and added: "There are outstanding and unambiguous Islamic teachings and sources regarding women and family and it is necessary to make them available to everybody in the form of usable theories."
His Eminence reiterated that from an Islamic point of view, family is an essential pillar of society. He said that it is not possible to achieve progress in society in the absence of families. He added that healthy and dynamic families cannot be formed and preserved in the absence of pious and understanding women.
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the west tactically avoids discussing the issue of family and reiterated: "Westerners discuss the issue of women in a passionate way, but they do not mention the issue of family because it is one of their obvious weak points."
His Eminence said that the western view of women is seriously misguided and that it is the biggest insult to the dignity of women. "Despite what they think, even the most radical feminists are harming women because by degrading women, they have turned them into an object of pleasure for men and unfortunately this is considered normal and acceptable in western public opinion."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the Islamic view of women and stressed: "From an Islamic point of view, there are no differences between men and women in terms of their human qualities and according to the Holy Quran, men and women are absolutely equal on the path of achieving transcendence and closeness to God."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that gender is a secondary issue in Islam and added: "The issue of gender becomes meaningful in social interactions and it has no effect on the position of men and women in Islam."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that women can work outside the home environment as long as their work does not affect their responsibility as mothers and wives and as long as Islamic rules are observed in their relationship with men.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that marriage is a holy institution in different religions, particularly in Islam. He added that it is necessary to avoid destroying the sanctity of marriage in society with inappropriate actions such as extravagant weddings and heavy mahr.