In this meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei spoke of Islamic ideals regarding women and stated: "The woman, as a role model, is represented by a complete framework in Islamic ideology. The woman is with faith and chastity; she is responsible for the most important part of human education; she is influential in society; she manifests a spiritual and experiential growth; she is the leader of the family, as a critical part in society; and she brings about peace for mankind."
His Eminence described feminine virtues and characteristics, asserting, "All of these qualities are combined with the feminine characteristics of softness, tender-heartedness, and her readiness for receiving divine blessings."
Ayatollah Khamenei was critical of the Western outlook on women. He referred to it as one of the many misleading models for women by stating, "In contrast, there has always existed misleading role models throughout history. Today, that misleading role model can be found among Western females, whom are expected, in contrast with all qualities we've mentioned for the Islamic woman, to physically appeal to males and appease them."
The Leader of the Revolution went on to say: "Thus, a major feature promoted of the Western female role model is her nudity (in society). You can see, in their gatherings, men are well covered; however, women are uncovered as much as possible."
Ayatollah Khamenei mentioned that mainstream media, mainly controlled by western powers, spend billions in dollars to take away women's independence, he added: "They spend a lot of money, make many efforts, use hundreds of media outlets in order to impact the independent identity of the Muslim woman."
His Eminence described the efforts by western media outlets and think tanks as futile, asserting: "Despite all the funds, energy and thoughts behind this plot, their efforts are futile. The mere result of their work might be a few girls, here or there who are deceived, or for various motivations take off their headscarves. All of their efforts have minor effects, which are unimportant. What makes me sensitive, is when an elite group talk of “compulsory hijab."
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution continued, "This means that a number of the people--hopefully unknowingly--follow the same path that the enemies couldn’t achieve, despite all the spent expenses. Among them are also journalists, intellectuals and clerics."
Ayatollah Khamenei criticized those who attribute their own interpretation of the Islamic law to Imam Khomeini when stating: "They say: 'Imam Khomeini’s words ‘women wear hijab’ did not refer to all the women.' Nonsense! I was present at that time; I know the reality. Imam Khomeini stood like a mountain against a clear repudiation, promoted by the Pahlavi regime and their successors."
Rejecting the comparison of different sins, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "Now some people say, 'This sin is not worse than backbiting. Why don’t you prosecute someone for backbiting?' Here, the poor recognition is cause for distress."
The Leader of the Revolution stressed that people's privacy is protected under the Islamic government, while social responsibilities are endorsed, further adding: "We never said we would prosecute the individual who, at home, takes off her headscarf in the presence of men (non-mahram: men not in the family, who should not see the woman’s hair and body). That done (wearing scarf) in public, is a social deed and public education, and brings responsibility for a government with the title of Islam. Otherwise, the forbidden (haram) is always forbidden, be it big or small."
On preserving people's privacy, His Eminence said, "If a person does something wrong in private, that remains between them and God. But what happens in public, the Islamic government--like that of the Prophet (pbuh) and Imam Ali (as)--has a responsibility to encounter."
Ayatollah Khamenei asked, to what extent are personal choices regarded as only personal matters?--To that he added: "The logic, which says let the people choose themselves, can also be used for other wrong doings, like selling alcohol. This can also be said for all other big social crimes. Is this a sensible ideology?"
Finally Ayatollah Khamenei described preventing promotion of sins in society as one responsibility to be carried out by the Islamic government: "The Sacred Lawmaker (God) has obliged the Islamic government to prevent rise of sins in the society. The Islamic government is responsible to encounter sin and haram."
Read the full text of the speech here.
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