Ebadi was born in 1947, the daughter of an expert on commercial law (Mohammad Ali Ebadi). According to most accounts, she became the first female judge in the entire history of Iran. An amazing distinction, given the age of the country. But when the Khomeinists seized power, she had to quit being a judge. They said that Islam forbade women to serve as judges — for one thing, they were too emotional. So, Ebadi devoted herself to work as a human-rights lawyer.
She has been living in exile since 2009, when Iran experienced a great amount of turmoil. It is my understanding that she still has family in Iran. (I did not ask this in my time with her, which was a generous amount of time, but not unlimited.) One question has been, How free is Shirin Ebadi to speak her mind, given what the regime can do to her loved ones?
Over the years, she has spouted her fair share of anti-American and anti-Israeli rhetoric (or rhetoric that can be interpreted that way). Some Iranians have suspected that she does this in order to buy a little protection from the regime — to keep it from her own and others’ throats.
Dedicated to the women who have graced the pages of history, from ancient to modern times.
Showing posts with label shirin ebadi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shirin ebadi. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Interview: Laureate in Exile
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Opinion: Shirin Ebadi
The following are excepts from Azadeh Moaveni's opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal:
"The last time I saw Shirin Ebadi in Tehran, the government devoted at least perfunctory attention to her safety. Two state-appointed bodyguards stood watch outside her house, and even accompanied us to dinner. They carefully looked on as we ate under the stars, interrupted every few moments by effusive Iranians who recognized their country's 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner and paused to press her hands in thanks.
As one of the few legitimate moral voices that command attention among Iran's disenchanted but sizable middle-class, she represents the country's silent majority. In 2005, she chose to boycott the presidential election on grounds that the regime's disqualification of candidates it disfavored denied Iranians true freedom of choice. Her stance helped convince many liberal Iranians to stay at home.
Hard-liners want to antagonize both her and the moderate Iranians she represents. In the face of such lawless and government-sanctioned attacks on her home and office, Ms. Ebadi will have little choice but to urge another boycott of the vote. The authorities know her inflexible ethics well, and know what response their mistreatment will prompt. The campaign against her also signals to moderate Iranians that their government is just as untrustworthy as they feared. A government that stands aside while the home of a Nobel Peace laureate is attacked by a mob can hardly be trusted to run a clean vote."
"The last time I saw Shirin Ebadi in Tehran, the government devoted at least perfunctory attention to her safety. Two state-appointed bodyguards stood watch outside her house, and even accompanied us to dinner. They carefully looked on as we ate under the stars, interrupted every few moments by effusive Iranians who recognized their country's 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner and paused to press her hands in thanks.
As one of the few legitimate moral voices that command attention among Iran's disenchanted but sizable middle-class, she represents the country's silent majority. In 2005, she chose to boycott the presidential election on grounds that the regime's disqualification of candidates it disfavored denied Iranians true freedom of choice. Her stance helped convince many liberal Iranians to stay at home.
Hard-liners want to antagonize both her and the moderate Iranians she represents. In the face of such lawless and government-sanctioned attacks on her home and office, Ms. Ebadi will have little choice but to urge another boycott of the vote. The authorities know her inflexible ethics well, and know what response their mistreatment will prompt. The campaign against her also signals to moderate Iranians that their government is just as untrustworthy as they feared. A government that stands aside while the home of a Nobel Peace laureate is attacked by a mob can hardly be trusted to run a clean vote."
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Shirin Ebadi
So, who is this woman feared by the Iranian government?
From the International Herald Tribune:
"Ebadi, a lawyer and her country's leading human rights activist, is the first Muslim woman to have been awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.
When she was awarded the peace prize in 2003, the Nobel committee called Ebadi "a courageous person" for standing up against Iran's bullying government. In the years since, she has endured repeated death threats from radical groups and regular government intimidation.
With presidential elections scheduled for June, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his allies apparently decided they could not risk letting Ebadi continue the work she has done with distinction (and without pay) for the past 15 years - exposing government violations of human rights and defending human rights and democracy activists."
From the International Herald Tribune:
"Ebadi, a lawyer and her country's leading human rights activist, is the first Muslim woman to have been awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.
When she was awarded the peace prize in 2003, the Nobel committee called Ebadi "a courageous person" for standing up against Iran's bullying government. In the years since, she has endured repeated death threats from radical groups and regular government intimidation.
With presidential elections scheduled for June, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his allies apparently decided they could not risk letting Ebadi continue the work she has done with distinction (and without pay) for the past 15 years - exposing government violations of human rights and defending human rights and democracy activists."
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