New Delhi: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tweeted on Wednesday, ‘A woman is a delicate flower and not a housemaid,’ even as women continue to push for their rights under his rule in the Islamic Republic.” A lot of women have hit the streets, especially after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in 2022 and have defied the strict hijab laws in protest against the authoritarian regime of Khamenei.
“A woman is a delicate flower and not a housemaid. A woman should be treated like a flower in the home. A flower needs to be cared for. Its freshness and sweet scent should be benefitted from and used to perfume the air,” Khamenei said.
Khamenei’s “flower” remark contradictory
In this context, Khamenei’s portrayal of women as “flowers” seems empty. While the statement attempts to honour women’s dignity and contributions, the reality in Iran is one of repression and limitations for women. Amid the ongoing struggles for women’s rights under his regime, Khamenei issued another tweet today, outlining gender roles for men and women, insisting that this distinction does not imply superiority.
“Women and men have different roles in the family. For example, the man is responsible for the family’s expenses, while the woman is responsible for childbearing. This doesn’t imply superiority. They’re different merits, and the rights of men and women aren’t calculated based on these,” he said in a tweet.
It should be noted that Khamenei made these comments on the same day the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1979. CEDAW is a comprehensive international treaty designed to promote equality between women and men and is often referred to as the “Women’s Bill of Rights.”
Women’s rights violation in Iran
Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, women’s rights have been severely restricted and that includes women being required to wear hijab in public places. The 2022 death of Mahsa Amini sparked nationwide protests demanding change. In response, Iran’s authorities intensified repression, launching a new ‘Noor’ campaign to enforce the hijab, with increased arrests and punitive measures against women.
