Impact of the Islamic Revolution on Situation of Women Worldwide

We are celebrating the 37th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran – the revolution which ushered in wonderful changes in all aspects of life, especially in the cultural, social and political arenas.

One of these successes was restoring to women their denied rights. In other words, the Islamic Revolution managed to change the society’s outlook towards the status of women and granted them a high value. In this writing, we focus on the impact of the Islamic Revolution in improving the situation of women.

If we review the history of presence of women in the various social, cultural, scientific and political arenas of the world, one can say that the current presence of Iranian women in the country’s various fields is not only a wonderful success in the contemporary world but has turned into a model for all countries. This is all indebted to the grand victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Prior to the victory of the Islamic Revolution, in most countries of the world, women were viewed as a mere tool and their social activity was ignored. With the victory of the Islamic Revolution and in the light of the dynamic outlook of the Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini (God bless him), women came to the fore and expanded their social activities, both during the event leading to the victory of the people’s grassroots movement and after establishment of Islamic government. Imam Khomeini not only paid attention to the women’s primary and fundamental role in building the family unit, but laid special emphasis on the social roles of women. We witnessed the first presence of women during their participation in the rallies leading to the victory of the Islamic Revolution. The Islamic Revolution thus changed the humiliating glance at women.

After victory of the Islamic Revolution and with the imposing of the 8-year war on Iran by the US through Saddam of the repressive Ba’th minority regime, another manifestation of women’s successful presence emerged in social arenas. Women actively provided relief aid and assistance to combatants on the battlefield through their brilliant efforts behind the frontlines, as part of the holy defence. After the war, Iranian women made their presence felt in various sectors of the society, shoulder-to-shoulder with men for the progress and development of Iran. The Iranian women turned into role models for the world’s women. These characteristics of the Iranian woman were emulated by the women of Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain, Pakistan, and even North America and West Europe. The Hijab-clad women of the Muslim world changed the worldview in Europe and the West, where feminism and consumerism had reduced women to mere chattel. Feminism is a theory on the supposed equality of rights between men and women. It claims to remove gender and moral restrictions, but has instead increased the plight of women by promoting vices, moral corruption, abortion, lesbianism, and all other ethical problems, resulting in the disintegration of the family unit. The Islamic Revolution in Iran thus liberated women and gave their rights by shattering the bases of feminism.

The flawed system of liberal democracy of the West had turned women into mere consumer tool by negating their role in family, and other traditional values. The Islamic Revolution delivered women from the bondage of capitalism as well as communism, by giving to them their fair and just rights in the framework of the Hijab and other ethereal values. The corrupt atmosphere at cinemas, schools, universities and workplaces, was replaced with the healthy atmosphere of Hijab, spirituality, and moral values. The Islamic Revolution also nullified the retarded and backward viewpoints towards women of the Wahabbis and other Takfiri terrorist outfits like al-Qa’da, Salafis, and Daesh, which treat women as slaves to the desires of men. Saudi Arabia is the centre of such negative attitudes towards women. Women are banned from driving cars. The Wahhabi Muftis regard women as evil, and justify their buying and selling. The Islamic Revolution countered such negative viewpoints towards women. The American Muslim lady Mrs. Melany Franklin now known as Marziyah Hashemi, says on the brilliant impacts of the Islamic Revolution: I was impressed by the Islamic Revolution and the personality of Imam Khomeini regarding the status and rights of women. I decided to study Islam, and as a result, I became Muslim and a firm adherent of the School of the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny). Thus, by reliance on the divine values of Islam and the campaign against oppression, the Iranian Muslim women have succeeded in bringing about fundamental changes in the world outlook toward women and their rights. They are busy in all arenas of the international system such as conferences, meetings, seminars, academic symposiums, and non-governmental organizations.

MG