TEHRAN (Iran News 11/14/95) - The Leader of the Islamic Revolution,
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei says perfection of humanity depends on women's and men's
being in their true places. "In the divine system neither woman nor man has the right
to consider himself more essential and useful," the Leader told a group of women
officials, specialists and artists. He also explained the place, responsibilities and role
of woman and man according to Islam and stressed the need for making use of the
law,
promotion of wisdom and thinking of women and of the intellectual level of society as a
whole.
At the meeting, held on the occasion of the birth anniversary of
Hadhrat Fatemeh Zahra (S.A.) and Woman's Day, the Leader described as shameful the figures
on injustice to women in the Western world. The Leader said that in the Western
countries,
including the U.S., where there
are talks about equal rights for women and men, there are horrifying
figures on use of violence against women and their abuse in various places.
"Therefore the problem of women cannot be remedied with what the West has
considered. Women's problems will worsen upon removal of hijab (Islamic cover) from their
head and avoiding the religious restrictions." Ayatolah Khamenei said Islam's
effort,
on the contrary, was directed at creating a healthy climate.