Shirin Ebadi: 'If you want to help Iran, don't attack'

international | anti-war / imperialism | other press

Sunday June 15, 2008 16:02

by pat c

Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi opposes any aggression by US Imperialism and also speaks on how repression in Iran has been stepped up. Full text at link.

With the international community fixated on Iran's nuclear ambitions, Ebadi says there is dwindling scrutiny of human rights in her homeland, and Ahmadinejad, has taken advantage of this to increase repression."Since the world started focusing on the nuclear programme, the human rights situation in Iran has worsened every day," says Ebadi, who won the Nobel prize in 2003. Dozens of activists have been prosecuted and condemned to prison, the lash or both. Arrests, detention and judicial harassment are increasing, with journalists, lawyers, students and trade unionists particularly targeted.

"The morality police interfere more in people's everyday lives," she says. "They recently announced they would carry out inspections in private homes and companies. In Tehran there was also a plan to target hooligans on the streets, but it led to a lot of innocent young people and women being arrested."

Ebadi recently took her campaign to the mid-west United States, where she found sympathy among ordinary Americans upset by bellicose rhetoric about Iran. She is perturbed at how contestants in the US presidential race have cited their preparedness to attack Iran. In April, Hillary Clinton said she would "obliterate" the country if it attacked Israel.

"It is very concerning," she says. "Undoubtedly a military attack on Iran would worsen human rights in the country. Look at Iraq - now the fundamentalists have a pretext for their extremism. No one talks about freedom of speech or human rights. People just want a safe shelter. Do you think that since the US troops arrived in Iraq that the Iraqi people have become prosperous? As a human rights activist I tell the people of the world that if you want to help people in Iran the solution is not to launch an attack."

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Comments (4 of 4)

Not Appeasement

Sat Nov 28, 2009 16:04

Opposing an attack on Iran is not appeasement. All Iranians will suffer if Iran is attacked. Look at what happened in Iraq. Its quite possible that an attack by the US would result in more extreme Islamists taking power in Baluchistan. The US covert squads are currently supporting armed gangs in Baluchistan who behead captives while posing as a National Liberation Movement.

Change must come from within and below in Iran, it cannot be imposed from outside.

typical of the mullahs

by Chas

Sat Nov 28, 2009 13:29

That's terrible news Patsy , but I can't say I'm surprised . It just shows how much the islamo- fascists care about democracy and peace for Iran doesn't it ? They stole the election from the rightful winner and now they steal the Nobel prize from its rightful winner. I'm going to write to some of the past winners of the peace prize and ask them if they'll support a protest .
I find it particularly ironic that Ms Ebadi has in the past opposed an attack on Iran . Appeasement of course has a long history going back as far as Neville Chamberlain in the nineteen -thirties .

Shirin Ebadi Nobel Peace Prize medal 'seized by Iran'

Fri Nov 27, 2009 18:00

Childish gestures like this will not stop Shirin from campaigning for democracy in Iran. Nor will it stop her opposing US aggression against Iran.

Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi says the Nobel Peace Prize medal she won in 2003 has been confiscated.

The medal and accompanying diploma were taken from a bank box in Tehran about three weeks ago on the orders of Iran's Revolutionary Court, she said.

Ms Ebadi, who has criticised Iran's recent disputed election and the subsequent treatment of protesters, said her bank account was also frozen.

Iranian authorities have not made any official comment on the issue.

Norway, which presents the award, said it was "shocked", by the confiscation.

The country's foreign ministry said it was the first time national authorities had taken such action.

Mon Jun 16, 2008 19:14

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Shirin Ebadi: 'If you want to help Iran, don't attack'

Comments (4 of 4)