TEHRAN- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said that in contrast to Iran, Western powers violate human rights by using women as a tool and leverage against sovereign states.

Addressing the participants at the First International Khorsheed Media Festival in Tehran on Monday, Raisi said, “The Islamic Republic believes that the West uses women as a tool.”

“The Islamic Republic views women neither an instrument, nor a homemaker. In a sense, there is a third view which observes that women can be society builders alongside men and play an essential role in the family and society,” he pointed out.

According to President Raisi, Western nations “are not really in favor of women’s rights or human rights” and have used them as a tool to exert pressure on independent nations.

“Our stand today is that of a claimant and the West of a suspect. The Westerners must answer why they violate the rights of human beings and women,” he stressed.

The president also criticized the West for disregarding the rights of the Palestinian people for 70 years and for invading Afghanistan for 20 years, the only results of which were the maiming of more than 35,000 children and widespread damage.

He continued by saying that Western nations, particularly the United States, are encouraging current ignorance among people by utilizing their media oligarchy to suppress actual news, fake the truth, and distort the facts.

Raisi went on to add that the key to victory against the West’s media empire is convergence and efficient relationships among independent and free media.

Iran condemns hateful, malicious actions against Islam, Quran

In a Monday congratulatory message to the leaders and nations of Muslim countries on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Raisi also said that Iran strongly denounces hateful and spiteful acts against Islam that occur in various regions of the world.

Acts of sacrilege against Islam hurt the sentiments of Muslims everywhere, he continued.

He identified the Quran as the book of kindness and wisdom and Islam as the religion of equality and freedom.

The Iranian president declared that disrespecting the Quran, a priceless miracle of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), was an affront to mankind, freedom, morals, and spirituality.

Raisi further expressed hope that with the aid of the Quran and the resolve of the leaders of the Muslim countries and nations, unity and integrity would be strengthened among all Muslim nations and Islam would be propagated across the world.