Statements of the Supreme Leader at the Grand Gathering of Sisters at Azadi Stadium on the Occasion of the Birth Celebration of Kowsar

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our Master and Prophet, Abul Qasim Muhammad, and upon his pure, immaculate, and chosen family, the guided and guiding.

I extend my congratulations to all you esteemed attendees and to all Muslim people, especially the women of the Islamic country, on the blessed birth of the radiant and knowledgeable Kowsar, Lady Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her). This great birth is one of the greatest Islamic festivals because Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her) is a prominent and great Islamic figure, truly a first-rate personality throughout human history. As it has been said by the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), he told Fatimah Zahra: 'Are you not satisfied to be the leader of the women of the worlds?' Fatimah Zahra herself asks: 'How about Mary?' The Prophet states that Mary was the leader of the women of her time, and you are the leader of the women of all history.

If the personality of Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her) were revealed to our simple minds and short-sighted eyes, we would also acknowledge that Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her) is the leader of all women in the world; a lady who, at a young age and in a short life, reached spiritual, scientific, and knowledgeable ranks equal to the ranks of prophets and saints. In reality, Fatimah Zahra is a bright dawn from whose bosom the sun of Imamate, Guardianship, and Prophethood has shone; a high and lofty sky in whose embrace the shining stars of Guardianship are placed. All the Imams (peace be upon them) held great respect and reverence for their noble mother, which is rarely seen from those great figures.

Therefore, this is an Islamic and human festival, and especially for our people, it holds a more fundamental point, which is that the women of our country, by familiarizing themselves with the life of Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her), her knowledge, struggles, and wise words, have charted a path before them, have moved along that path, and must advance further. Thus, today, the discussion I wish to present in this grand assembly of you esteemed women is about women's issues and the issue of women in our country, in our time, and in the logic of Islam.

Of course, since the victory of the revolution, much activity has been undertaken regarding the issue of women and the defense of women's rights. In truth, it must be said that after the revolution, Iranian women have been honored. The pioneer of this honor was the great Imam, who valued and respected Iranian Muslim women with all his being. This vision led to women playing a significant role in the Islamic revolution; so much so that if women had not been present in the revolutionary movement of the Iranian nation, it is likely that this revolution would not have succeeded in this form; or it might not have succeeded at all, or significant problems would have arisen in its path. Therefore, the presence of women was problem-solving. It was the same during the war, and it has been the same in other issues from the beginning of the revolution until now. Therefore, much effort has been made; however, regarding the issue of women, women's rights, eliminating oppression from women, and providing suitable opportunities for our country's women, a significant cultural effort is necessary. Today, I am discussing this with the intention of helping to create this cultural space.

If the cultural space of society becomes clear regarding women's issues and Islamic rulings and Quranic views in this area become clear, the path will be paved for the women of our country to reach the ideal and ultimate goal for a woman. Although it is a discussion, it is speaking, it is saying, but in reality, it is action; because this speaking will clarify the cultural space of society and illuminate minds.

In recent years, we have observed commendable efforts in the intellectual and cultural space of the country regarding women's issues; but there is a fundamental question: What is our goal when we talk about women's rights or providing opportunities for women's development and eliminating oppression from women? What is the purpose of these efforts, these writings, these speeches, and these legal activities? This is a question that must certainly be answered.

The second question is: What slogans do we want to raise and what means do we want to use for women to reach their true position in society? Because today in Western countries and also in countries that move and live with Western culture and in the atmosphere of Western countries, there is something called the women's rights movement; there, too, feminism and women's movement with the intention and goal of defending women's rights are discussed today. Is what we see today in Islamic Iran the same? Is it similar to that, or is it different? A serious question must be asked about this issue, and a serious answer must be given. Today, I will speak a little about this and briefly and concisely present what Islam's view on this matter is.

For cultural and legal efforts to reach the desired point for women, two types of goals can be envisioned from a social and individual perspective:

One goal is that we strive for women to reach their existential perfection, to fight, to write, and to speak. That is, women in society, firstly, reach their human and true rights; secondly, their talents flourish and they achieve true and human growth and ultimately reach human perfection. Women in society become complete humans; humans who can contribute to the progress of humanity and their society and transform the world into a paradise and beauty within their capabilities.

Another type of goal is that we want to create a state of hostility, separation, and hostile competition between the two genders, women and men, through this speaking and striving and perhaps fighting, and build a world based on competition; as if in human society, men are on one side, women are on the other, and they are fighting over an achievement, and the woman wants to prevail over the man in this part! Is this the goal?

Thus, two views on the goal of this effort and this movement - or if we express it, this movement - can be drawn: the first goal is the Islamic goal; the second goal is the short-sighted goal, which in the efforts made in Western countries, we see more traces of the second goal. More explanation will be given during the talk. This is a question that must be clarified; what is the goal of this effort for women or for women's rights?

The second question - which is equally important - is that when we speak in the name of women and defend women, what slogans do we raise, what do we demand, and what do we strive for? This is also very important. Here, too, the Islamic method - that is, what can be understood from Islamic discussions about women and Islamic definitions and knowledge - is different from what exists in the West today.

What exists in the West as a slogan is, first and foremost, women's freedom. Freedom encompasses a wide range of meanings; it includes freedom from captivity, freedom from morality - because morality is also a constraint - freedom from the influence of an employer who exploits women with lower wages, and freedom from laws that bind women to their husbands. Freedom can mean all these things. As in these slogans about women, there is a wide range of these demands and requests, some of which are completely contradictory to each other. What does this freedom mean?

Unfortunately, in the Western world, the more understood meaning of this freedom is the incorrect and harmful meaning - that is, freedom from family constraints, freedom from the absolute influence of men, freedom even from the constraint of marriage and forming a family and raising children where a fleeting lustful goal is in front of it - not freedom in its correct sense. Therefore, you see among the things said in the Western world, the issue of freedom of abortion is mentioned, which is a very important point and, although it seems simple and small, it has a very dangerous and severe implication in this statement. This is a means and slogan and demand that is often raised in the West; hence they say the women's liberation movement. In a correct system, in a correct demand and struggle, the goal cannot be this broad meaning that a part of it is certainly harmful; although there may be beneficial parts in it. Better, more appropriate, correct, and problem-solving slogans must be sought.

The main point of my speech to you dear women, especially young women, is that you will live in this world for many long years and must benefit from the facilities that Almighty God has created in this world for human perfection; you must know it correctly and know its path correctly; so you need to think. Also, for you, the issue of struggle to eliminate oppression from women will be raised; therefore, you must know what is being raised? What is necessary? What is harmful? Therefore, this point is important for you.

In every social movement, it will be correct and reach correct results when it is based on reason, reflection, discernment, and interest and is based on correct and rational foundations. In every movement that is undertaken with the intention of realizing women's rights, this exact meaning must be considered; that is, every movement must be based on a wise vision, based on the truths of existence - recognizing the nature and instinct of women and the nature and instinct of men, the responsibilities and exclusive jobs of women, the responsibilities and exclusive jobs of men, and what can be common between them - and not be based on passivity and imitation. If the movement is a passive and imitative movement and a blind and closed decision, it will certainly be harmful.

If in our country and Iranian society, some people bring up the name of women and women's rights because Western magazines, or Western reports, or Western politicians have accused Islamic Iran of not reaching women's rights, this is wrong. One should not enter this field with this goal; because it will lead to deviation and error. If we enter this field of defending women with this intention that we do not fall behind Westerners, we will make a mistake. If we enter with this intention that they do not have a bad and negative view of us, we will make a mistake. If we enter this field with this imagination and delusion that they have found the right path in this area, we will make a severe mistake. One should not enter this field with these goals and intentions; because it is based on error.

Unfortunately, today I see some articles written in defense of women and some words spoken in the name of realizing women's rights are completely from a position of passivity; because Westerners have said this, because Europeans have written this way, because they have attributed this to us. If we also say something in defense and follow a path, this is completely misleading and deceptive. We must see what truths exist in the world - most of these truths are hidden in Islamic teachings - what are they?

Islam is a supporter of human perfection. For Islam, there is no difference between men and women. For Islam, the gender of women or men is not the issue; human perfection is the issue. In one place, the speech is about men, in another place, the speech is about women. On one occasion, women are honored, on another occasion, men; because they are two parts of the human body, two parts of human existence. From the human and divine aspect, they have no difference with each other. Therefore, in the Quran, when it wants to give examples of good or bad people, it gives examples of women: 'And Allah sets forth, as an example to those who disbelieve, the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot.' In the case of those who believe, it gives examples; 'the wife of Pharaoh.' In both cases, the complete example of the wrong path and the right path is mentioned from women; in one place, it also speaks about men.

For Islam, gender - being a woman and being a man - is not the issue; human elevation is the issue, human ethics are the issue, the emergence of talents is the issue, the fulfillment of duties that are directed to each person or each gender of human genders is the issue, for which, of course, natures must be recognized. Islam also knows the nature of women and the nature of men well. In Islam, what is discussed is balance; that is, observing absolute justice among human beings, including between the gender of women and the gender of men. Equality in rights is discussed, but in some places, the rulings for women may differ from the rulings for men; just as the nature of women differs from the nature of men in some characteristics. Therefore, the most truths and the most realities of human nature and temperament regarding women and men are in Islamic knowledge.

If today we want to make a real and fundamental movement for the women of our country so that women can reach their desired state, we must look at Islamic rulings and be inspired by them. For us, the method is determined by Islamic rulings. Islam also accepts and approves any wise and rational method. If there is an experience somewhere, it is acceptable; but imitation is not. Wise use of others' experiences is correct; but imitation is wrong. Therefore, today those who strive for women's rights and for the growth and flourishing of women's talents in our country - and of course, this effort must be made - must know what goal they are pursuing and what slogans they must raise.

First, let me mention the problems of Westerners and Western culture in this area, then I will refer to Islam's view. Westerners have been extreme and negligent in recognizing the nature of women and how to deal with the female gender. Essentially, the Western view of women is a view based on inequality and imbalance. Do not look at the slogans given in the West; these slogans are empty and do not reflect reality. Western culture cannot be understood from these slogans. Western culture must be sought in Western literature. Those familiar with European literature, with European poetry, with European novels and plays, know that in the eyes of European culture, from the Middle Ages and after that until the middle of the current century, women were considered second-class beings! Whatever they claim otherwise, they are lying. Look at the famous plays of the English playwright Shakespeare, see with what breath and with what language and with what view women are looked at in these plays and other Western literature! In Western literature, the man is the master and lord of the woman and has authority over her, which some examples of this culture and its effects still remain today.

Even today, when a woman marries a man and goes to her husband's house, even her family name changes and she takes on the man's family name. A woman has her family name as long as she is not married; when she marries, the woman's family name changes to the man's family name. This is the custom of Westerners; in our country, it has not been this way, and it still is not. A woman retains her family identity with her even after marriage. That is a sign of the same old Western culture where the man is the master of the woman.

In European culture, when a woman married with all her possessions and property and went to her husband's house, not only was her body at the husband's disposal, but all her property and assets that she had received from her father and family also belonged to the husband! This is a truth that Westerners cannot deny. This was in Western culture. In Western culture, when a woman went to her husband's house, the husband actually had control over her life! Therefore, you see in Western stories and in European poetry that the husband kills his wife over a moral disagreement, and no one blames him! A girl in her father's house also had no right to any choice.

Of course, even at that time among Westerners, social interactions between men and women were somewhat free, but the choice of marriage and the choice of a husband was entirely in the hands of the father. In those plays I mentioned, what you see is this: a girl forced into marriage; a woman killed by her husband; a family where the woman is under extreme pressure. What exists is of this kind. This is Western literature. Until the middle of the current century, this culture continued; although from the late nineteenth century, movements in the name of women's liberation began.

Dear women; especially young women who want to think about these matters, pay close attention. The important point is that even when in Europe the right of ownership was determined for women - according to the meticulous examination of European sociologists themselves - it was because factories, which had just spread the modern technology and industry in the West, needed workers; but there were few workers, and the need for more workers was felt. Therefore, to attract women to factories and use their labor force - which, of course, always paid women less - it was announced that women had the right to ownership! It was in the early twentieth century that Europeans gave women the right to ownership. This is that extreme and wrong and oppressive view of women in the West and in Europe.

Such an extreme has its counterpart in negligence. When a movement in favor of women arises in such an atmosphere, it naturally becomes negligent from the opposite side. Therefore, you see that over several decades, such corruption and lawlessness spread in the West through women's freedom that it terrified Western thinkers themselves! Today, reformers and well-intentioned, motivated people in Western countries are horrified and upset by what has happened, and of course, they cannot stop it. In the name of serving women, they inflicted the greatest blow on their lives. Why? Because with lawlessness, with the spread of corruption and immorality, and with the unconditional freedom of interaction between men and women, the foundation of the family was destroyed. A man who can freely satisfy his lust in society and a woman who can contact various men in society without any objection or problem will never be good and worthy spouses in the family. Therefore, the family foundation was destroyed.

Today, one of the greatest calamities that has severely gripped Western countries and put them in a very undesirable situation is the family issue. Therefore, any man who raises the slogan of family is considered a desirable and popular man by Westerners and especially by women in the West. Why? Because they suffer from the instability of the family foundation; because unfortunately, the West has lost the family; that is, the center that is a safe and peaceful environment for men and women and especially for women. Many families have been destroyed. Many women live alone until the end of their lives. Many men do not find the woman they desire and many marriages end in the first years of their existence.

Families do not have the deep roots and foundations that exist in our countries today. The family that includes grandparents, grandchildren, relatives, cousins, and other branches being together, knowing each other, and having connections is very, very rare in the West today. Husband and wife also do not have the necessary intimacy with each other. This is a calamity that descended on human society with wrong actions, with extreme movement from that side, which was done in response to previous extremes, and it mostly fell upon Western women.

In reality, the women's defense movement in the West was a hasty movement, an illogical movement, a movement based on ignorance, without relying on divine traditions and without relying on the nature and temperament of women and men, which ultimately harmed everyone; both women and men, and more women. This is not imitable. This is not a culture that someone in an Islamic country should look at and want to learn from; this should be rejected.

Yes; the movement towards realizing women's rights in Islamic societies and in our society must certainly be undertaken; but based on Islamic principles and with Islamic goals. Some should not say what kind of movement is this, what kind of movement is this; what does a woman lack in our society? Unfortunately, some may think this way. This is superficiality. Women in all societies - including in our society - are subject to oppression and suffer from deficiencies imposed on them; but this deficiency is not a deficiency of freedom in the sense of lawlessness; this deficiency is a deficiency of fields and opportunities for knowledge and understanding and education and ethics and progress and the flourishing of talents. This must be provided and sought. This is what Islam emphasizes.

If the Islamic society can train women according to the Islamic model - that is, the Zahra model, the Zainab model, great women, magnificent women, women who can influence the world and history - then women have reached their true exalted position. If women in society can reach the knowledge and understanding and spiritual and ethical perfections that Almighty God and the divine religion have considered equally for all humans - both men and women - then the upbringing of children will be better, the family environment will be warmer and more harmonious, society will progress more, and the knots of life will be more easily untied; that is, both men and women will be happy. For this, one must strive; this is the goal. The goal is not to line up women against men. The goal is not hostile competition between men and women. The goal is for women and girls to be able to undertake the same journey and movement that when men undertake it, they become great humans; women become great humans. This is possible and has been experienced in Islam.

My sisters! My daughters! Women of the Islamic country! Know that at any time, in any small environment, and in any family where a woman with this upbringing could grow, she achieved the same greatness. It was not exclusive to the early days of Islam; even in times of oppression, even in times of disbelief, this is possible. If a family could properly raise their daughter, this daughter became a great human. We had this in Iran, we had it in our time, we had it outside of Iran. In our time, a brave, knowledgeable, thoughtful, artistic young woman named Mrs. 'Bint al-Huda' - the sister of Martyr Sadr - was able to influence history, was able to play a role in oppressed Iraq; of course, she was martyred. The greatness of a woman like Bint al-Huda is no less than any of the brave and great men. Her movement was a feminine movement; the movement of those men is a masculine movement; but both movements are evolutionary movements and indicative of the greatness of personality and the brilliance of the essence and nature of humans. Such women must be trained and nurtured.

In our own society, we have had many such women. We had them even during the time of oppression. During the struggles, later during the Islamic system, great women; these women who were able to raise martyrs; these women who were able to turn their husbands or children into self-sacrificing humans who went and defended the country and the revolution; defended the nation's existence and the nation's honor. These are great women. These women were able to do this great work, and I have witnessed many cases.

Many of those who today supposedly advocate for women's rights are actually advocating for Western freedom and lawlessness and imitating Westerners; those who sometimes write things. They had no share in those honors; they had no share in the greatness that Iranian women have shown and created in these eighteen years after the victory of the revolution, and they did not do great work. Many of them were thinking about their own pockets, their own income, their own enjoyment, and their own adornment and decoration tools. They have no greatness. That prescription is a wrong prescription. If the Western prescription regarding women was correct, Westerners would not have been forced to start another women's rights movement after seventy, eighty years, a hundred years. I mean the movement they started in recent years.

Now for ten, twenty years, they have started other movements again in the name of defending women's rights and defending women's freedom. Why? If Western freedom was a successful program, if the defense of women's rights was real, there would be no need for another group to come and start a movement and make noise after a hundred years. So, that prescription was wrong; their current prescription is also wrong and will lead to nothing but misery and trouble for both men and women - especially for women.

But the Islamic method is not like this. Islam's goal in defending women's rights - as mentioned - is that women should not be oppressed and men should not consider themselves rulers over women. In the family, there are limits and rights. Men have rights, women also have rights, and these rights are arranged with strict justice and balance. What is falsely attributed to Islam, we do not say and do not defend. What belongs to Islam is the clear and established principles of Islam. These are things that establish balance between the rights of women and men within the family.

You see what this noble verse says about women and men - mainly within the family. 'And among His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates.' That is, among the signs of divine power is that for you humans, from your own kind and from your own gender, He made spouses; for you men, women, and for you women, men. They are from yourselves; 'from yourselves,' they are not a separate gender, they are not in two separate ranks; they are all one truth, one essence, and one nature. Of course, in some characteristics, they have differences; because their duties are twofold. Then it says: 'that you may find tranquility in them.' That is, the duality and dual gender in human nature is for a great purpose. That purpose is tranquility and peace, so that you may find tranquility in the opposite gender within the family - men in the presence of women, women in the presence of men. For men, coming into the home, finding the safe environment of the home, a kind and loving and trustworthy woman beside him, is a means of tranquility; for women, having a man and a support to whom she can give love and who is like a strong fortress for her - because men are physically stronger than women - is a happiness; a source of tranquility and happiness. The family provides this for both. Men need women in the family environment for tranquility; women also need men in the family environment for tranquility - 'that you may find tranquility in them' - both need each other for tranquility and peace.

The most important thing that humans need is tranquility. Human happiness is in being safe from mental turmoil and having mental tranquility. The family provides this for humans; both for women and for men. The next sentence is very interesting and beautiful. It says: 'And He placed between you affection and mercy.' The correct relationship between men and women is this: affection and mercy, a relationship of friendship, a relationship of kindness; both love each other and be kind to each other. Loving with violence is not acceptable; kindness without love is also not acceptable.

The divine nature of men and women in the family environment is a nature that creates a relationship between men and women that is a relationship of love and kindness: 'affection and mercy.' If this relationship changes, if men feel ownership in the home, if they look at women with the eyes of employment and exploitation, this is oppression, which unfortunately many men commit. In the environment outside the family, it is the same. If women do not have a safe and secure environment for studying, for working, for perhaps earning income, and for resting, this is oppression. Anyone who causes this oppression, the law and the Islamic society must confront him.

If they do not allow women to access proper education and knowledge, this is oppression. If the conditions are such that women do not have the opportunity to reach their ethics, religion, and knowledge due to the abundance of work and the pressure of various tasks, this is oppression. If women do not have the opportunity to use their property independently and with their own will, this is oppression. If a husband is imposed on women at the time of marriage - that is, she has no role in choosing a husband and her will and desire are not considered - this is oppression. If women, whether when living with the family at home or when separated from their husbands, cannot benefit from the necessary emotional benefit from their children, this is oppression. If women have talents - for example, scientific talents, talents for inventions and discoveries, political talents, talents for social work - but they are not allowed to use these talents and these talents do not flourish, this is oppression.

There may be various oppressions in society, which must be removed; but at the same time, the responsibility of women and the responsibility of men, who both have a responsibility to form a family, must be viewed with importance; because the happiness of women and the happiness of men is in this. Some think that women's deficiency is that they do not have big and noisy jobs! No; women's problem is not this. Even the woman who has a big job needs a safe environment in the family, a kind and loving husband, a reliable emotional and spiritual support - which is her husband and man. The nature and emotional and spiritual need of women is this; this need must be fulfilled.

The issue of employment is another issue; of course, it is not a primary issue. Although Islam does not prevent women's jobs and responsibilities - except in exceptional cases, some of which are agreed upon among jurists, some are disputed, and in these areas, of course, work must be done - but the main issue for women is not whether they have a job or not. The main issue for women is that fundamental issue that has unfortunately been lost in the West today, and that is the feeling of tranquility and the feeling of security and the feeling of the possibility of talent emergence and not being oppressed in society and in the family and in the husband's house and in the father's house and the like. Those who strive for women's issues must strive in these areas.

Now I will mention a few fundamental points that must be considered:

Firstly, the thought of women's growth in terms of spirituality and ethics must be a common thought among women themselves. Women themselves must think more about this issue. They themselves must turn to knowledge, to information, to study, and to the fundamental issues of life. That wrong Western upbringing caused women in this country during the reign of the tyrant to tend towards adornment, luxuries, unnecessary decorations, and self-display, which is also a sign of male dominance. One of the signs of Western male dominance is that they want women for men; therefore, they say women should adorn themselves so that men can enjoy! This is male dominance, this is not women's freedom; this is actually men's freedom. They want men to be free, even for visual enjoyment; therefore, they encourage women to unveil and adorn and display themselves in front of men! Of course, many men in societies that were not blessed with God's religion had this selfishness from ancient times, and they still have it today; Westerners were the supreme manifestation of this. So, this issue that women should move towards knowledge, science, study, awareness, acquiring information and knowledge must be taken very seriously among women themselves and given importance.

Second, the reform of laws is necessary. Some laws in dealing with women and men need reform. Those who are experts in these matters must study, review, and correct those laws.

Another necessary task is that the Islamic view on women's rights and men's rights must be clarified. Women themselves must work in this area; but more importantly, those who are knowledgeable in Islamic knowledge must strive and be able to clarify the Islamic view in those areas where women's and men's rights differ, so that everyone acknowledges that this is precisely based on the nature and human nature of women and men and according to the interests of society. Of course, good work has been done; today, this work must be done in today's language, otherwise, good work has been done in the past in this area, and if someone studies and pays attention, they will reach this acknowledgment and confirmation.

The next point is that deviant discussions in these areas must be avoided. Some people, under the pretext of defending women, are drawn into deviant discussions and raise some issues such as blood money and the like; while these are deviant discussions. The Islamic view on women and men is clear and obvious. As stated, the Islamic view on the family is completely clear. For someone to come and raise such issues does nothing but divert the path and mislead minds and is not a correct and logical action. Deviant discussions should not be raised. This is not in favor of the correct movement in this regard.

Another point that must be considered is the moral and legal defense of women, especially within the family. Legal defense with the reform of laws - as mentioned - and the creation of necessary laws and moral defense by raising this issue and confronting those who do not understand it correctly and consider women in the home as a servant subject to oppression by men, without the ability for spiritual self-building and act in this way. This thought must be confronted with strength and intensity; of course, in a completely logical and rational way.

The next issue is the importance of chastity in women. Any movement undertaken to defend women must have the main pillar of observing women's chastity. As I mentioned, in the West, because this point was not considered - that is, the issue of women's chastity was not given importance and was not paid attention to - things led to these lawlessnesses. They should not let women's chastity - which is the most important element for a woman's personality - be neglected. Women's chastity is a means for the elevation and honor of a woman's personality in the eyes of others, even in the eyes of lustful and lawless men. Women's chastity is the source of respect and personality. This issue of hijab and mahram and non-mahram and looking and not looking is all to keep the issue of chastity intact. Islam gives importance to the issue of women's chastity. Of course, men's chastity is also important. Chastity is not exclusive to women; men must also be chaste. However, because in society, men, due to physical power and physical superiority, can oppress women and act against women's desires, more emphasis and caution have been placed on women's chastity.

Even today, when you look at the world, you see that one of the problems of women in the Western world, especially in the United States, is that men, relying on their strength, violate women's chastity. I saw statistics published by the official authorities of the United States, one from the Department of Justice and another from another authority. The statistics are truly frightening. Every six seconds, a rape occurs in the United States! See how important the issue of chastity is and where it leads when it is neglected. Every six seconds, a rape! Against the woman's will, a powerful, oppressive, lawless, and unchaste man can violate a woman's chastity. Islam considers these. The issue of hijab, which is given so much attention in Islam, is because of these. So, the issue of maintaining chastity and giving importance to hijab and chastity is another issue.

One issue is the education and upbringing of women. I have always emphasized this. Fortunately, today in our society, women's education and upbringing are common; but still, there are families that prevent their daughters from studying. If one day educational environments were unhealthy, today, thanks be to God, in the Islamic era, it is not like that. They must allow girls to study, to read, to become familiar with religious knowledge and human knowledge, and to strengthen and empower their minds and brains. This is a very necessary task that must be done.

The last point is that society, both legally and morally, must deal harshly with those who consider violating women their right; the law must also provide for severe punishments in this area. Again, I must say that in Western countries, despite all the slogans they give, they have not yet been able to ensure this. That is, within families, there are many women who are beaten by their husbands and daughters who are harmed and injured by their fathers. There are shocking and terrifying statistics in this area. However, there is another thing there, and that is murder. They easily shed blood, they easily kill. Killing does not have the abhorrence it has in the Islamic environment in those environments that have not smelled the divine knowledge - unfortunately. Killing women is one of the very ugly and disgusting calamities that is common in Western countries - especially America. Fortunately, these actions are not as severe in our country and are not seen except in exceptional cases; but in any case, any oppression and any physical aggression against women must be met with a very harsh response, so that our Islamic society reaches the level that Islam has desired.

If the country can familiarize the women's community with Islamic teachings, with the same knowledge that Islam has desired, I have no doubt that the country's progress and development and elevation will be multiplied and several times. In any field that women responsibly enter, progress in that field will be multiplied. The characteristic of women's presence in various fields is that when the woman of the family enters the field, it means her husband and children are also involved. The presence of men does not mean this, but the presence of women means this. In any field that a woman enters - a woman who is the lady and housekeeper of a house - in fact, she brings the whole house into that field. Women's presence in various sectors is very important.

We hope that Almighty God helps the country's officials, the lawmakers, the planners of women's issues, and those who are active in women's issues, and grants them success, so that they can find the correct Islamic and correct path without inclination and flexibility towards the wrong, foreign, and imposed methods and, God willing, move in that path, and the women of our country can reach the state and level that Islam has desired for them - which includes material and spiritual happiness and the happiness of this world and the hereafter.

O Lord! We beseech You by Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her) and Zainab the Great (peace be upon her) and the soul-refreshing school of Fatimah and Zainab, to grant the women of our country their Islamic and lofty goals. O Lord! Remove the obstacles to the growth and elevation of women. O Lord! Include all of us in the pure prayers of the Imam of the Age. We hope that Almighty God keeps all of you successful and safe.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings