Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei goes on ‘feminist’ rant, blames America and capitalism for oppressing women

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, went on a “feminist” rant on social media on Thursday, discussing gender pay gaps, the effects of capitalism, and how he believes the West “degrades” women. He described women as “flowers” that must be protected and claimed that Western countries limit women to “objects” and “slaves.”

Khamenei claimed that, in the name of “freedom,” some countries harass and torture women. He said that every woman in the household should receive “affection” and added that pursuing Islam and following the Islamic code is better for both men and women, regardless of where they live in the world.

'Feminist' posts by Iran's Supreme Leader:

1. In many Western countries today, women are paid less than men for doing the same work. That’s how they are today, which is totally unjust.
2. Women's achievements in intellectual & research centers in the Islamic Republic are unprecedented in Iran’s history. We've never had this many women scholars & intellectuals in Iran. Praise God, our women are among the best in global science, social, political & athletic fields.
3. The Islamic Republic has shown a Muslim woman observing the Islamic dress code can progress further than others in all areas & be influential both in society & at home. Guided by this view, our women have made great progress in numerous fields since the victory of the Revolution.
4. The West insists on exporting its culture regarding women. They even argue that if a woman observes hijab and sets these limitations for herself, she won't be able to progress! The Islamic Republic has refuted that nonsensical logic.
5. Fatherless children, eroding familial relationships, ruining the family structure, gangs preying on young girls, & increasing sexual promiscuity all under the name of freedom! Such corruption reflects the status of families in the West & they label it “freedom!"
6. In the Western capitalist culture, women are viewed as being objects of pleasure. The criminal gangs that have recently created an uproar in America are a clear indication of this.
7. Islam’s view of women is in complete contrast to that of Western capitalism. In Islam, a woman has independence, the ability to move & progress, & an identity. But not there [in the West]. Women’s honor & dignity aren’t respected, & women are a means for material exploitation.
8. In the home environment, the most important right of the highest priority that the lady of the house, the woman of the house, has is affection. There’s a hadith that says that men should tell their wives, “I love you."
9. Women are the manager of the home, not a servant for you to say, “Why didn’t you do this? Why didn’t you do that? Why isn’t the house clean?” A woman is like a flower. A flower must be cared for and protected, and she will enrich you with her color, fragrance, and qualities.
10. In Islam, the dignity of women and respecting women are some of the most essential elements. According to a hadith, the Prophet (pbuh) stated, “A woman is like a flower in the home, and she isn’t a servant for the home."

However, social media was quick to point out to Khamenei that Islamic states, including Iran, are widely condemned for systematically subjugating women and stripping them of basic rights.Human‑rights organisations say authorities in Iran frequently arrest, flog, imprison or even execute women for defying compulsory dress‑code laws.Netizens said that such state‑sanctioned repression contradicts any claim that women are treated with respect, rather than as second‑class citizens.