Certainly this posting, which blames Zionists for women around the world being treated as second-class citizens exposes his readiness to blame Israel for all the wrongs in the world.
And here, where he seems to suggest that the most important – perhaps the only important – quality in women is their ‘nurturing capabilities’ he seems to be driving at an exclusively home-based role for women.
But then elsewhere in the same series of messages the Ayatollah hints at some notion of equality:
And while this quotation could easily be taken to mean something altogether different, it is at least possible that he might here be calling for equal respect being given to women who chose to become full-time parents;
It may be that the world’s media has been unfair to Ayatollah Khamenei, who presides over a country where women are not permitted to watch volleyball.
Certainly a clearer statement from the Supreme Leader would be welcome.
