Ayatollah Khomeini Quote by Robert Spencer
““as in the Islamic Republic of Iran, where large numbers of women turned out during the June 2009 post-election demonstrations. Clearly, these women’s grievances went far beyond a single rigged election. One explained, “I see lots of girls and women in these demonstrations. They are all angry, ready to explode, scream out and let the world hear their voice. I want the world to know that as a woman in this country, I have no freedom.” This was not surprising, since Iranian law was formulated in scrupulous adherence to the Koran and Islamic tradition and law. Even the Ayatollah Khomeini’s granddaughter, Zahra Eshraghi, declared that under Islamic law, “a woman is there to fill her husband’s stomach and raise children.” And just weeks after President Barack Obama defended the right of women in non-Muslim countries to cover their heads, brave Iranian women were throwing off their head coverings as a sign of protest against the Islamic regime—with no peep of support from Obama. Journalist Azadeh Moaveni, author of the feminist book Lipstick Jihad, noted that “while it’s not at the top of women’s grievances, the hijab is symbolic. Taking it off is like waving a red flag. Women are saying they are a force to be reckoned with.”10””
About This Quote
Source Article: “Iranian Women’s Protests,” 2010
Iranian women’s protests highlight broader grievances beyond elections, using symbolic acts like removing hijab to demand freedom.
In simple terms: Women protest for rights, using symbols to be heard.
Support women’s voices and symbolic resistance.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- public demonstrations
- social media campaigns
- legal reforms
- community organizing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the hijab symbolize for you?
- How can international allies effectively support such protests?
Symbolic acts may be misinterpreted or co‑opted.