Iran’s Khamenei tweets: ‘Women are flowers, not housemaids’

“A #woman is a delicate flower and not a housemaid.” A woman should be treated like a flower in the home. A flower needs to be cared for. Its freshness & sweet scent should be benefited from and used to perfume the air.

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) December 18, 2024

In an earlier tweet, Khamenei had elaborated on gender roles, stating, “Women and men have different roles in the family. For example, the man is responsible for the family’s expenses, while the woman is responsible for childbearing. This doesn’t imply superiority. They’re different merits, and the rights of men and women aren’t calculated based on these.”

#Women & men have different roles in the family. For example, the man is responsible for the family’s expenses, while the woman is responsible for childbearing. This doesn’t imply superiority. They’re different merits, & the rights of men & women aren’t calculated based on these.

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) December 18, 2024

The comments come as his regime faces continued international scrutiny over women’s rights in Iran, particularly following widespread backlash to strict hijab laws.

Recently, Iran’s National Security Council postponed implementing the contentious “hijab and chastity law,” citing ambiguity in the legislation amid domestic and global criticism.

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned Iran’s policies on women, accusing authorities of entrenching repression.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Leader has also accused the US and Israel of orchestrating the downfall of Syria’s former president Bashar al-Assad and pushing Iran out of the country.