TEHRAN – Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Sunday insisted on more active involvement of women in social, economic, and political activities.

He said the society would pay the price if women show indifference toward the management of the society.
Rafsanjani made the remarks in a meeting with a group of women rights activists in Tehran. Among those were present in the meeting were former director of environment department Ma’soume’ Ebtekar, his daughter Fa’eze’ Hashemi, and some former women lawmakers.
“If the environment is not provided for women faithful to Islam and revolution this vacuum will be filled by seculars and those who have no faith in Islam” and are not loyal to the Islamic Revolution.
Rafsanjani pointed out that the Islamic Revolution has provided legal framework for women’s widespread engagement in the society.
He said the Islamic revolution succeeded in changing the wrong impressions about women which opposed “women’s serious participation” in managing the society.
However, some of those wrong impressions about women are once again taking root, he warned.
Women’s “seriousness and engagement” in different fields and their attempt to inform the society of the significant role they can play would alter the current situation, he added.
The EC chairman praised women’s strive to achieve scientific recognition, adding, “This move bodes well for the community of women.