Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has made a significant statement on the role of women, describing them as 'managers of the home' and 'not servants,' even as he firmly defended the country's mandatory hijab laws. His comments, made during an address marking national Mothers' Day, come amid a growing public row over the enforcement of the Islamic dress code for women.
Khamenei's 'Flower' Analogy and Defense of Hijab
Speaking at the Imam Khomeini Hussainiya in Tehran on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Khamenei addressed thousands of women gathered for the eve of the birth anniversary of Lady Fatima al-Zahra. In a subsequent post on social media platform X, he elaborated, "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?'" He likened a woman to a flower that must be cared for and protected.
However, he used the platform to strongly advocate for the hijab, directly countering Western criticism. "The West insists on exporting its culture regarding women. They even argue that if a woman observes hijab... she won't be able to progress! The Islamic Republic has refuted that nonsensical logic," Khamenei stated. He accused US and Western capitalism of 'eroding women's dignity.'
Context: Parliamentary Pressure and Controversial Photo
Khamenei's address followed a day of political tension. On Tuesday, over half of Iran's conservative-dominated parliament publicly criticized the judiciary for failing to properly enforce the existing hijab law. This internal pressure highlights the ongoing struggle within the Iranian establishment over the strictness of the dress code.
The controversy was further ignited recently when Khamenei's own office published a photo in its newspaper of an unveiled Iranian woman killed during the June war with Israel. As per an AFP report, the woman wore a baseball cap, but her hair was visible. This publication was seen by many as an unusual and contentious move.
Islam, Progress, and 'Capitalist Logic'
The Supreme Leader asserted that Islam grants women a highly respected position and does not hinder their advancement. "In the Islamic republic, it has been shown that a Muslim woman, wearing the hijab... can progress more than others in all areas," he claimed, according to AFP. He declared that women can be active in society, business, politics, and most government positions as per Islamic principles.
Contrasting this with the West, he argued, "The evil capitalist logic tramples on and destroys women’s dignity." He positioned the hijab as a symbol of dignity and security for women, framing it as a fundamental right within his interpretation of Islamic law.
The mandatory hijab law has been in place since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which overthrew the US-backed Shah. It requires women to cover their head and neck and dress modestly in public. Khamenei's latest comments reinforce the official stance while attempting to reconcile it with a narrative of women's value and managerial role within the family and society.
