The summit was held on the eve of 27th passing away ceremony of Imam Khomeini. The gathering was attended by Shahindokht Molaverdi, vice president of Iran in the section of Women and Family Affairs, and several other officials, academics, intellectuals and parliamentarians.
A large number of foreign guests who are in the Iranian capital, Tehran to attend Imam’s anniversary also joined the academic event. Several speakers shed light on the thought and ideals of Imam Khomeini regarding the key role of women and their participation in social, political, religious and cultural affairs.
Imam Khomeini, who has been credited with raising status of women in contemporary history, once said in a historic address after the victory of the Islamic Revolution as following:
“Islam grants woman a say in all affairs, just as it grants man a say. Women from the Islamic point of view enjoy a dignified position; they have free will just as men have. God created them free beings and gave them dignity; He has laid down laws to prevent them from corruption which is for their benefit.”
Once delivering a historic speech to a group of women, the founder of the Islamic Republic, stressed that, “Islam has a particular regard for women. Islam appeared in the Arabian peninsula at a time when women had lost their dignity, and it raised them up and gave them back their pride. Islam made women equal with men. In fact, it shows a marked concern for women. In our revolutionary movement, women have likewise earned more credit than men, for it was the women who not only displayed courage themselves, but also reared men of courage. Like the Holy Qur’àn itself, women have the function of rearing and training true men. If nations were deprived of courageous women to rear true men, they would decline and collapse.”