Shirin Ebadi quotes

Shirin Ebadi is an Iranian lawyer, judge, and human rights activist known for her efforts to promote democracy and protect the rights of women and children in Iran. She received the Nobel Peace Prize for her pioneering work in advancing human rights and social justice. She continues to inspire activists worldwide with her courage and dedication. Here are 60 of her quotes:

When a person is humiliated, when his rights are being violated, and he does not have the proper education, naturally he gravitates toward terrorism.

Shirin Ebadi

The idea of cultural relativism is nothing but an excuse to violate human rights.

Shirin Ebadi

Human rights is a universal standard. It is a component of every religion and every civilization.

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.

Shirin Ebadi

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

I maintain that nothing useful and lasting can emerge from violence.

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.

Shirin Ebadi

In my memoir, I wanted to introduce American women to Iranian women and our lives. I'm not from the highest echelons of society, nor the lowest. I'm a women who is a lawyer, who is a professor at a university, who won the Nobel Peace Prize. At the same time, I cook. And even when I'm about to go to prison, one of the first things I do is to make enough food and put it in the fridge for my family.

Shirin Ebadi

In the last 23 years, from the day I was stripped of my judgeship to the years of doing battle in the revolutionary courts of Tehran, I had repeated one refrain: an interpretation of Islam that is in harmony with equality and democracy is an authentic expression of faith. It is not religion that binds women, but the selective dictates of those who wish them cloistered. That belief, along with the conviction that change in Iran must come peacefully and from within, has underpinned my work.

Shirin Ebadi

Because of our youthful population, we suffer from unemployment in Iran. We need more universities and more job opportunities for the young.

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.

Shirin Ebadi

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

The international community can't trust such a government. If the government of Iran wants the international community to believe in what it says, it should try to bring true, pure democracy into the country. The political solution to the energy issue or the nuclear case is democracy in Iran.

Shirin Ebadi

No American soldier should be allowed to set foot on Iranian soil, regardless of the criticism we have of the Iranian government.

Shirin Ebadi

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

The younger generation is essentially idealistic. This applies to the Iranian youth as well. In addition, the youth in Iran face certain difficulties... the Iranian youth need more freedom. They are struggling for more freedom and democracy. This commands great respect.

Shirin Ebadi

We must not enable anyone to impose his personal view regarding religion on others by force, oppression, or pressure.

Shirin Ebadi

I hope the example of Saddam Hussein will give a lesson to leaders of other countries where human rights are not respected.

Shirin Ebadi

Lawyers should not be charged with the same crimes as their clients. Trials related to political charges are not in accordance with human rights.

Shirin Ebadi

Sadly the job security of lawyers has been ruined, so they are less willing to defend political defendants.

Shirin Ebadi

The Iranian government intends to use the nuclear program for peaceful purposes, but must convince international public opinion of that.

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.

Shirin Ebadi