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Khatami Reiterates Call to End "Discrimination" against Women in Iran
President Mohammad Khatami on Wednesday again called for an end to discrimination against Iran's women, using a campaign speech to echo a theme that helped sweep him to office four years ago.
"The discrimination that exists in our culture, our law and our political entities must be ended," he said, appealing to one of his largest bases of popular support as he seeks a second term in the June 8 presidential polls.
"The question of women demands a new approach at every level of society," he told around 1,000 people at a campaign rally which women had been specially invited to attend.
"Women must take their place in our social, political and cultural life," he said, adding that they should also be assured equal rights and allowed to move forward according to their individual capabilities.
"Woman plays a fundamental role in society, she is the pivot of the family. But that doesn't mean that she has to work exclusively at home or that she is limited to guaranteeing the comfort of men," he said. Khatami has actively promoted the role of women in the Islamic republic, even appointing a woman as one of his three vice presidents, and their heavy support helped win him 70 percent of the popular vote in 1997.
He is facing nine mostly conservative challengers in Iran's largest-ever field of presidential candidates, and is widely expected to win re-election but with a lesser mandate than four years ago. At the rally, Mohammad-Reza Khatami, the president's brother and head of the parliament's reformist bloc, said Iranians had chosen the reform path in 1997 "and by voting for him again will show that they want to go down this path to the end."
Alluding to the conservatives, Khatami added: "Participating in elections isn't to choose a man, but a path. To participate is to make those who are deaf and blind understand that they must accept the reality of the country, either by joining the people or by leaving the scene and leaving their place to democratic forces."
The rally also featured female MP Elaheh Koulieh, who said "Muslim women know very well that Iran's development will be assured only by the continuation of reforms," as "they need democracy."
"That can only happen by President Khatami's victory in the election," she said.
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