Imam Khomeini’s Paradigm in Realization of Socio-Political Rights of Women

Abstract

The issue of women has always been an inclusive debate in the history of thoughts, receiving double attention in the contemporary age. A rational approach to this issue and logical defense of the Islamic doctrines on women requires an in-depth study of the words and conducts of the influential, dynamic and contemporary sources of religious imitation. Islam’s initiatives and endeavors for wiping off the dust of ignorance from the face of humanity and for saving humans, particularly women, where before Islam the birth of a girl was a matter of shame and disgrace, are undeniable. The dominant patriarchal culture in human societies must be blamed more than any other factor for backwardness of women. As part of a soft war, certain movements have focused on women as half of the Iranian population to raise doubts and to disappoint them. The question is whether Islamic Revolution ideals have been geared toward the downfall of socio-political status of women or not. This paper, developed with an analytical-descriptive methodology, intends to review Imam Khomeini’s practical approach toward realization of the socio-political rights of women as the theoretician and founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In the light of Imam Khomeini’s words and actions, Iranian women have been positively sensitive toward various aspects of political system and established an active relationship with it. Imam Khomeini set part of the need for participation of women as an obligation, linking it to religious duties..

Keywords

• rights of women
• discrimination
• social rights
• political rights
• imam khomeini