In a meeting with the high-ranking officials of the international congress on women of influence Ayatullah Dr. Ebrahim Raisi, expressing his content over the opportunity to host women influential figures from various countries said: “I hope that the ladies at this meeting would take a step in forwarding the rightful rights of women around the world through synergy, collaboration and joint efforts.”

The President also expressed hope that the ladies in this meeting would benefit from the valuable experiences that the Islamic Republic of Iran has gained since the Islamic revolution with regards to attaining the rights of women and the attention paid to them in the society so that the joint collaboration would give fruitful results.”

Dr. Raisi by stating that these meetings and dialogues would open ways for collaboration between the countries and nations added: “We have no doubt that there is a difference between man and woman on their creation but with regards to their human values there are no differences. Man and woman have no difference with each other in reaching the peak of humanity and whomsoever tries to elevate him/herself in moral, spiritual and human values it is surely possible.

By referring to the role of women side by side of men throughout history the president said: “When we look through history, we witness the effective presence of Hajar besides Prophet Ibrahim, Asieh, besides Prophet Moses, Mary, besides Jesus, Khadijeh besides Prophet of Islam, Lady Fatimah as the role model for the entire women around the world besides her father, her husband and her children and the great woman that you visited her holy shrine today in Qom, beside her brother.”

Ayatullah Raisi by reminding that there is no important event in history that could have occurred without the key role of women added: “Women should not be marginalized in the societies nor be isolated. The backward view towards women and looking at her as an object by the Western powers and politicians are both void and doomed to failure.

The correct definition on woman is that both man and woman are humans and there are even women who can have an impact on men.”

The president went further on about the important and influential role of women as artists, scientists, politicians… throughout the history of Europe, Africa and Asia and said: “In the Islamic Republic of Iran the late leader and the founder of the Islamic revolution noted from the beginning the effective role of women and since then our women have always played a significant role in scientific, cultural, social and political developments.”

He continued: “During the eight-year imposed war when the country was under attack, the role of our women in defending our towns and also giving motivation to our men for resistance were highly effective and remarkable.”

The president continued on the resistance of the Palestinians against the occupation of the Zionist regime that it was mainly due to the effective role of Palestinian women saying: “They are those women who in the course of resistance for their nation are either killed or sustain casualty or through their voice speak up against the oppression and crimes perpetrated against them and who also play an important role and impact on the history of their nation.”

Dr. Raisi continued introducing Lady Zainab as the spearhead of influential women throughput history who revealed the oppression and held the flag of seeking the truth and added: “I hope this meeting would provide a stronger role for women to play in seeking truth and defending justice.”

The president stressed on the protection of the rights and dignity of women as the most important and key principles of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran and said: “Of course, this is not a right given to women by the politicians and the governments rather, it is part of the rights that are bestowed by the Almighty God to women and the governments should only protect it.”

Dr. Raisi said: “We in the Islamic republic of Iran since the beginning tried a great deal to defend this right in the international communities and also inside the country, we tried to increase women’s participation and effectiveness in various areas. Fortunately, today women compose over 30% of our university professors, over 34%of health sector staff and over 60% of university and academic centers are engaged by women and young Iranian girls and also over 30% of the decision- making levels and senior experts are occupied by the influential Iranian women.”

The President moved on: “Moreover, today women occupy a large part of various sport activities both inside and outside the country holding championship in many sports fields”.

The president also   referred to the influential role of women in economy and entrepreneurship and stated: “We believe that women besides men can have an impact in various scientific, economic, political, cultural, social and sports activities.”

Dr. Raisi, reminded that today in the western countries despite their claims, the rights of women are in many cases abused added: “Based on the statistics published in the US and British media many women are killed by the police for merely demanding their rights in these countries.”

The president said: “The reason why these countries are angry at the Islamic Republic of Iran is because it has introduced a new model and life style that observes the principles and the values of women in the society and that has managed to provide them the ground to have access to high levels of cultural, political, social and athletic progress”.

Dr. Raisi said: “In this life style, the Islamic Republic of Iran is neither after backwardness of woman, nor does it credit the western view of objectifying women, rather it believes that a woman on its own possesses a personage and it has always defended her status.”

The president said: “The Islamic Republic of Iran as well as our laws and regulations pertaining to women emphasize on paying attention to supporting the rights of women, reiterating on the issue of family formation.”

Dr. Raisi while expressing on the unfortunate ugly prevalence of homosexuality   phenomena categorized as the precursor of civilization stressed: “Such views have led to the destruction and deterioration of humanity and The Islamic Republic of Iran while seriously disapproving and condemning this decadent and degenerating phenomenon believes in the effective role of women in the societies and for this it has a lot to say.”

He described this gathering very appropriate and said: “I hope that this meeting with its influential impact can have useful and positive results for the neighboring countries as well as for the women in the regional and global areas.

He asserted that today the message of the Islamic Republic of Iran for all the countries is the message of peace, friendship, solidarity together with security for the entire nations. We in no way do accept war on any nation for we have been the victim of an unwanted and imposed war. We have no eyes on any foreign soil but we support the total territorial integrity of all countries and are friends of our neighbors during difficult times.”

The president reminded of the devotion and dedication of General Qasem Soleimani in defending the people of Iraq and Syria and even the entire region which was stemmed from the same political and humane principle of the Islamic Republic of Iran and said: “We believe we should neither oppress nor allow any oppression against us, we favor justice for everyone and we are after peace and security for all the nations.”

By referring to those who with their beautiful looking slogans claiming to support the freedom and the rights of women they in actual fact are imposing the gravest oppressions against women added: “The Islamic Republic of Iran is after freedom for every nation for men and women alike and observes it.”

He continued: “We believe oppression against the people of Palestine is an oppression against humanity and trampling on the rights of all human beings no matter where they are and is condemned by us.”

By reminding the role of the Islamic Republic of Iran in defending the truth, the rights and justice for men and women he said: “Paying attention to the rights of citizens were always emphasized by the late leader, the spiritual leader and the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran and we are bound to support and protect these rights.”

Finally, the president reiterated: “I hope that at this  gathering  the scholars, scientists and intellectuals in the area of women and family would exchange their views that would result in the promotion of women’s effective role in various walks of life and in different societies and the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to share its experiences in this regard.”

He added: “I hope your visit to Iran will be memorable and would yield valuable experiences for your countries.”

Prior to the speech of the president,  the wife of the prime minister of Burkina Faso, first lady of Serbia, deputy speaker of Ecuador parliament, first lady of Armenia, and Iraq MP in their short speeches while thanking the Islamic Republic of Iran for its initiative in holding this congress and also admiring the experiences and developments achieved in Iran by women,  expressed their views regarding  various issues of women including ways to empower them and increase their impact within various political, economic, social, cultural and health and treatment areas.