“When more and more people want something, it becomes easier to achieve that goal.” PeopleWantGoalAchieveEasierWant Something Author:Shirin Ebadi
“The people of Iran have been battling against consecutive conflicts between tradition and modernity for over 100 years... some have tried and are trying to see the world through the eyes of their predecessors and to deal with the problems and difficulties of the existing world by virtue of the values of the ancients... many others...seek to go forth in step with world developments and not lag behind the caravan of civilization, development and progress.” PeopleWorldYearsHas BeensProblemEyeValuesDealsBehindsStepsVirtueProgressDevelopmentCivilizationConflictTraditionDifficultyIranModernityPredecessorsThrough The EyesLagCaravansConsecutive Author:Shirin Ebadi
“I know of no civilization that tolerates or justifies violence, terrorism, or injustice. There is no civilization that justifies the killing of innocent people. Those who are invoking cultural relativism are really using that as an excuse for violating human rights and to put a cultural mask on the face of what they're doing.” PeopleKnowsHumansFacesRightsViolenceCivilizationKillingInjusticeHuman RightsExcuseTerrorismInnocentMaskJustifyTolerateRelativismCultural Relativism Author:Shirin Ebadi
“Unfortunately, violence begets violence. And this is how the war on terrorism seems to be going at this juncture. A lot of people are losing their lives. Many children are losing their parents. Too many houses are being destroyed. And, unfortunately, the arms industry seems to flourish.” PeopleChildrenWarSeemsHouseParentViolenceArmsIndustryLosingTerrorismDestroyedBegetsWar On TerrorWar On TerrorismJuncture Author:Shirin Ebadi
“I have said many times that I wish there was no oil in the Middle East, and more water. People would have been much happier than they are right now.” PeopleHas BeensSaidWishWaterMiddleOilEastMiddle East Author:Shirin Ebadi
“I want to take my American friends back to the end of World War II, when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was formulated. A group of thinkers met to come up with ways and means to prevent yet another war. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt played a crucial role in assembling this group of people. And that is why the name of the United States is synonymous with the cause of human rights around the world.” PeopleWorldWayWantHumansMeanWarEndsStatesNamesCausesUnitedRolesUnited StatesRightsGroupsMetsUniversalHuman RightsCome UpAround The WorldWar Of The WorldsThinkerCrucialWorld War IiWorld War IDeclarationEleanorAssemblingDeclaration Of Human Rights Author:Shirin Ebadi
“The people are fed up with corruption and embezzlement. They object to censorship. The first thing that the people of Iran want is free elections.” PeopleWantFirstsObjectsElectionCorruptionIranFedsCensorshipFed UpFree ElectionsEmbezzlement Author:Shirin Ebadi
“The most important problem in Iran is that the courts have lost their independence, and they are under the influence of the Ministry of Intelligence and their people. This is why we witness a number of journalists and human rights activists, my colleagues, and a number of feminists, in prison.” PeopleHumansImportantProblemLostNumbersRightsInfluenceIndependenceCourtPrisonHuman RightsFeministWitnessJournalistIranActivistMinistryColleagues Author:Shirin Ebadi
“The role of Iran has been very destructive. As an Iranian, I apologize to the civilian people of Syria who have been killed as a result of the useless intervention of Iran in Syria.” PeopleHas BeensResultsRolesUselessDestructiveIranSyriaApologizingInterventionCiviliansIranianI Apologize Author:Shirin Ebadi
“It is totally unacceptable for a government to interfere in the internal affairs of another government and send aid, money, and weapons, to the people who are against a certain regime in another country.” PeopleCountryGovernmentCertainWeaponsAffairAidsInternalsRegimesInterfereInternal Affairs Author:Shirin Ebadi
“While living in exile I have become the loudspeaker for the people of Iran.” PeopleIranExile Author:Shirin Ebadi
“I am the voice of the people in Iran whose voices are silent and whose demands cannot be heard by the rest of the world.” PeopleWorldVoiceHeardDemandSilentIran Author:Shirin Ebadi
“People are fundamentally good. But conditions deteriorate them.” PeopleConditions Author:Shirin Ebadi
“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.” PeopleIfsHumansEnoughOrderHuman BeingsResultsViolenceAirConditionsAccessOxygen Author:Shirin Ebadi
“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.” PeopleAcceptingDemocracyArgumentAimIslamExcuseRefuge Author:Shirin Ebadi
“The idea of cultural relativism is nothing but an excuse to violate human rights. Human rights is the fruit of various civilizations. I know of no civilization that tolerates or justifies violence, terrorism, or injustice. There is no civilization that justifies the killing of innocent people. Those who are invoking cultural relativism are really using that as an excuse for violating human rights and to put a cultural mask on the face of what they're doing.” PeopleViolenceKillingInjusticeHuman RightsVariousExcuseTerrorismInnocentMaskJustifyTolerateRelativism Author:Shirin Ebadi
“Iran is a rich country, and if the people of this country are poor, it's because of the wrong policies of the government.” PeopleCountryPoorRichPolicy Author:Shirin Ebadi
“Democracy doesn't recognize east or west; democracy is simply people's will. Therefore, I do not acknowledge that there are various models of democracy; there is just democracy itself.” PeopleDemocracyModelsWestVariousEastAcknowledgeAcknowledgement Author:Shirin Ebadi
“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.” PeopleWorldNeedsHumansWarCommonSecurityMilitaryDemandBasesViolentNonviolenceNon ViolentBasic Needs Author:Shirin Ebadi
“We must acquaint the youth to the realities of the world... we must tell them that millions of people around the world have no access to drinking water.” PeopleWorldRealityWaterMillionsYouthDrinkingAccessAround The WorldDrinking Water Author:Shirin Ebadi
“Europe clearly is the only place where people can speak up critically, and this is a unique cultural value.” PeopleValuesSpeakUniqueEurope Author:Shirin Ebadi
“My aim is to show that those governments that violate the rights of people by invoking the name of Islam have been misusing Islam.” PeopleHas BeensShowsGovernmentNamesRightsAimIslam Author:Shirin Ebadi
“Usually, in any revolution people are focused on who wants to have the most power. But the most important thing is the laws that are written during that time.” PeopleWantImportantLawWrittenRevolutionImportant ThingsFocused Author:Shirin Ebadi
“We shouldn't just consider the desire of government to do what it wants to do. We should always consider the resistance of people. The culture of Iranian people doesn't let the government drag people into deep trouble or backlash. Maybe government wants it, but the culture doesn't let it go on.” PeopleWantShouldGovernmentDesireCultureTroubleGoes OnResistanceDragLet It GoIranianBacklash Author:Shirin Ebadi
