Turkey's President discusses women's rights in Islam

Istanbul (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday declared that women are not equal to men and launched a bitter attack against feminists in Turkey, claiming they reject the concept of motherhood.

Speaking at a summit in Istanbul on justice for women, the devoutly Muslim president said that biological differences between women and men meant they cannot serve the same functions in life.

"Our religion (Islam) has defined a position for women (in society): motherhood," Erdogan told an audience of Turkish women including his own daughter Sumeyye.

"Some people can understand this, while others can't. You cannot explain this to feminists because they don't not accept the concept of motherhood..."