“West projects inverted image of Islamic view on women”

Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, Secretary General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought met with Marzieh Hashemi, Press TV Muslim anchor recently released from 11-day FBI detention relating on the status of women in Islamic and western culture, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

The cleric in this meeting hailed the activities of Muslim convert as a female journalist and said the detention of Marzieh Hashemi was an opportunity to unveil the oppressive identity of the United States.

He lauded the Press TV anchor over her perseverance against the difficult situation in US detention calling on Marzieh Hashemi to maintain her endeavors do defend the oppressed women in the west and Europe.

“Women in the west are among the worst oppressed” said the cleric drawing comparison with the high status Islam maintains for women.

Ayatollah Araki added,” The west provides an inverted image of Islamic view on women; hence, I suggest that you focus on introducing the true status of women in Islam and explain Islamic teachings to the people in the west.”

59-year-old American-born Muslim convert who has lived in Iran for years, was detained by FBI on January 13 while in the US to visit her ill brother and other family members. She was released on January 23 after some 10 days of detention without charge at a Washington, DC, facility.

KD