Ayatollah Khamenei says Islamic dress is a source of pride, not a threat, and can guide women worldwide toward Islam
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has described the Islamic hijab not as a restriction but as a powerful tool for promoting Islam. Speaking to women on December 3, 2025, he argued that modest dress can attract women who have been affected by Western cultural norms and guide them toward what he calls the “truth of Islam.”
Khamenei also addressed Iranian media directly, warning them against amplifying Western ideas about women:
“Our media must be careful not to become tools for promoting Western and capitalist thinking about women, which is false and misguided,” he said.
“When hijab, women’s clothing, or cooperation between men and women are discussed, the media of the Islamic Republic should not simply repeat their arguments or magnify them. Islam should be promoted. The Islamic view is an honorable view.”
He added that presenting this perspective internationally could draw more attention to Islam:
“If we present this outlook and this effective theory in international forums, many people around the world will certainly be drawn to Islam — especially women. This is the best way to promote Islam.”
A Critique of Western Gender Norms
Khamenei sharply criticized Western capitalist societies, saying they exploit women for economic gain while framing Islamic dress codes as oppressive. He noted that Western advertising, film, and media use women’s physical appeal as a commercial tool, while also portraying hijab as a restriction on freedom.
“In Western societies, the family as a unified and affectionate institution scarcely exists,” Khamenei said.
“Children without known fathers, the breakdown of family ties, organized exploitation of young women, and the promotion of sexual permissiveness — all of this is carried out in the name of ‘freedom.’”
He argued that such conditions erode women’s dignity and undermine family structures, comparing them to pre-Islamic practices that deprived women of their rights and purpose.
Hijab as a Source of Strength
Khamenei rejected claims that Islamic dress limits women’s progress. He cited examples from Iran since the 1979 revolution, where women have advanced in education, healthcare, science, sports, and social service while adhering to Islamic norms.
“A committed Muslim woman, observing hijab, can move forward in all areas — in society and in the home,” he said.
He framed hijab as part of Islam’s broader moral and social system, which establishes boundaries to protect human dignity:
“Sexual desire is a very strong force and must be controlled. Islam has been able to regulate it through its rulings — including modest dress for both women and men, physical boundaries between them, and encouragement of marriage. These measures restrain a dangerous and harmful factor.”
A Global Opportunity
For Khamenei, the social and cultural issues facing women in Western societies present an opportunity for Islam. By promoting Islamic dress as dignified and life-giving, he believes that women disillusioned with Western “freedom” may turn toward Islamic teachings.
He concluded that hijab should be presented not as a threat, but as a moral and cultural alternative, capable of attracting international attention and respect for Islam’s values.
From: Tasnimnews
