A Living Symbol of Dissident Iran

Leading human rights lawyer and former judge, Dr. Shirin Ebad, is adamant that the world should focus on pressuring the Iranian government to restore democracy and human rights, rather than intervening militarily or imposing economic sanctions. “It will only hurt the Iranian people,” she told the admiring audience at the dinner event in her honour organized by the Canadian International Peace Project (CIPP).

At a press conference prior to her speech she urged people to “spread the violations of human rights in Iran so all will know.”

A diminutive woman under five feet tall, with gigantic spirit, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her pioneering work in democracy and human rights. She became the first Iranian and Muslim woman to receive the prestigious prize. The Nobel Award Committee has been quoted as saying, “As a lawyer, judge, lecturer, writer and activist, she has spoken clearly and strongly in her country, Iran, and far beyond.”

In l975, she became Iran’s first female judge, but after the l970 revolution she was dismissed because she was a woman and forced to become a clerk in the same court where she had once presided.

When in l992 she managed to obtain a license to practise law, she took cases defending human rights and freedom of the press. She also represented the family of Zahra Kazemi, the Canadian-Iranian photo-journalist from Montreal, who was tortured, raped and killed while in an Iranian prison. The case remains unresolved since officials claim she fell and hurt her head.

Since last year Ebadi, 62, mother of two daughters, has lived in exile in the U.K. A number of her colleagues have been arrested and she was advised to stay away. Her sister was arrested, her husband’s passport was taken away and her Nobel prize confiscated. “By staying out of Iran I can bring my voice to more people. But once the situation gets better, I am going to go back,” she said. She continues in exile, to represent dissidents in Iran.

Ebadi describes Iran as “a great prison” where even cell phones are tapped. Freedom of thought as well as speech is restricted. She gave the example of a famous Iranian film director who was jailed along with his wife and daughter, charged with making a movie in his home against the regime even though no film was ever seen. “You can’t even think against the government,” she said.

More than 6,000, an official figure, actually many more, have been arrested. Torture and sexual assault is rampant. All detainees are accused of conspiring to overturn the regime in a coup d’etat. They are not allowed a lawyer until the day of the trial. Then they must take whoever they get.

“Iran is a country rich in natural resources but poverty and inflation are wide-spread.” Iran is facing a crumbling economy, with a 26 per cent annual inflation rate and an unofficial unemployment rate of nearly 40 percent. The government is inept and corrupt. There are a great number of minor age executions. Adult executions are second in the world after China, she reported.

After the 2009 presidential elections, in an awe-inspiring demonstration, more than a million Iranians protested peacefully on the streets of Tehran, chanting “Where is my vote?”

The government denounced the demonstration as “illegal”. “Shots were fired from the top of government buildings, killing and wounding a number of people. The next day police attacked the university dormitory. Five were killed and many injured.”

“Women are emerging as leaders,” said Ebadi. “They have organized a group called The Committee of Mourning Mothers. Their children have been killed or imprisoned. Every Saturday, dressed in black, carrying pictures of their children, the gather together. Even though they are peaceful, police have beaten and arrested them.”

The post-election demonstration has resulted in a grass roots movement, a cross-section of Iranian people who are increasingly frustrated with the government, called the Green Movement. It has no real structure like a political party she explained, but rather it is a “horizontal” coming together of religious, political, students and business people. Despite of the violent severity of government crackdowns to suppress the discontent, “the number of supporters increase day by day.”

When asked to comment on Iran’s nuclear program and threats to wipe Israel off the map, she brushed the question aside saying it was not important – the support of Iranian dissidents and international pressure on human rights violations should be the focus.

She also refused to label the Revolutionary Guard as terrorists because of fear of alienating those within the Guard who are covertly with the Green Movement. The Guard is the brutal military-intelligence-security apparatus that has seized almost all levers of Iran’s government. According to Iranian writer Reza Aslan, it now controls more than a third of Iran’s annual budget and practically all of Iran’s black market.

The Canadian Coalition Against Terror, which represents victims of terrorist attacks, has asked Ottawa to add the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to Canada’s list of banned terrorist organizations.

Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon in the last two months has issued statements, calling the Iranian regime noxious, irresponsible and a threat to global security, while condemning its “stifling of democracy” and “ blatant disregard of basic human rights.”

The CIPP is a unique non-partisan organization. Mark Persaud, founder and head, told the audience it reflects Canadian values –“pluralism, rule of law, and respect for minorities.” The CIPP has initiated groundbreaking projects, national and international, involving numerous groups including the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu communities. Representatives of all these communities came together at the event, to honour Dr. Ebadi.