Lawyers have a dangerous job in Iran. Shirin Ebadi More Quotes by Shirin Ebadi More Quotes From Shirin Ebadi It's not just about hope and ideas. It's about action. Shirin Ebadi actionideas Human rights is a universal standard. It is a component of every religion and every civilization. Shirin Ebadi standardsrightscivilization Whenever women protest and ask for their rights, they are silenced with the argument that the laws are justified under Islam. It is an unfounded argument. It is not Islam at fault, but rather the patriarchal culture that uses its own interpretations to justify whatever it wants. Shirin Ebadi islamrightslaw Women are the victims of this patriarchal culture, but they are also its carriers. Let us keep in mind that every oppressive man was raised in the confines of his mother's home. Shirin Ebadi motherhomemen If you can't eliminate injustice, at least tell everyone about it. Shirin Ebadi injusticeifs I maintain that nothing useful and lasting can emerge from violence. Shirin Ebadi lasting-lovelastingviolence The idea of cultural relativism is nothing but an excuse to violate human rights. Shirin Ebadi cultural-relativismrightsideas democracy ... is not something that occurs overnight. It is not a gift delivered on a golden tray. Democracy is a long process of fighting, challenging accepted ideas, and perpetually striving for freedom. Like a seed that has to be watered every day to become a flower, democracy needs constant attention and care. Shirin Ebadi fightingflowerideas When more and more people want something, it becomes easier to achieve that goal. Shirin Ebadi want-somethinggoalpeople How can you defy fear? Fear is a human instinct, just like hunger. Whether you like it or not, you become hungry. Similarly with fear. But I have learned to train myself to live with this fear. Shirin Ebadi cultural-relativismhungryhunger We demand a non-violent world where human security is the basis of our common global security. People have the right to live in a world where the basic needs of all peoples are addressed. No more military attacks. No more war. Shirin Ebadi militarywarpeople People are fundamentally good. But conditions deteriorate them. Shirin Ebadi conditionspeople It's perfectly OK that there are certain people who do not accept Islam at all. Therefore, to announce that I am a Muslim can rub some people the wrong way. But my aim is to show that those governments that violate the rights of people by invoking the name of Islam have been misusing Islam. They violate these rights and then seek refuge behind the argument that Islam is not compatible with freedom and democracy. But this is basically to save face. In fact, I'm promoting democracy. And I'm saying that Islam is not an excuse for thwarting democracy. Shirin Ebadi islamdemocracypeople North Americans do not understand that you do not throw down human rights like bombs on the Iraqis. Shirin Ebadi human-rightsbombsrights Unfortunately, the United States and a few other governments have used the war on terrorism as a way of violating human rights. I am referring to the case of the Guantánamo Bay prisoners. This violation of the rights of prisoners has been so unbelievable that the United Nations has reminded the United States repeatedly that the treatment of prisoners should take place according to the preestablished conventions of the United Nations. Shirin Ebadi governmentrightswar The condition of women in Islamic societies as a whole is also far from desirable. However, we should acknowledge that there are differences. In certain countries, the conditions are much better and in others much worse. Shirin Ebadi islamicdifferencescountry We must not enable anyone to impose his personal view regarding religion on others by force, oppression, or pressure. Shirin Ebadi oppressionpressureviews Whenever Muslim women protest and ask for their rights, they are silenced with the argument that the laws are justified under Islam. It is an unfounded argument. It is not Islam at fault, but rather the patriarchal culture that uses its own interpretations to justify whatever it wants. It utilizes psychology to say that women are emotional. It utilizes medical science to say that men's brains are formed in such a way that they are better able to understand concepts. These are all hypotheses. None of this has been proven. Shirin Ebadi psychologyemotionalbrain There is a verse [in the Koran] that says God swears by time. Anything you gain in life, you pay for with your time. Time is the most important thing that has been given to man. Shirin Ebadi designimportantmen When there is enough oxygen in the air for everyone, no one is going to take to violence in order to access it. But if there were not enough of it for everyone then people would result to violence in order to get it. Therefore we have to improve the conditions to have better human beings. Shirin Ebadi oxygenairorder
