Posted on 07/26/2005 5:36:15 AM PDT by Wiz
Prior to the second round of presidential elections in Iran, which was won by Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi gave an interview to the Egyptian Al-Ahram Weekly, in which she discussed the recent Iranian elections, the status of women in Islamic society, and democracy. The following are excerpts from the interview: [1]
"As Long as a Council [the Guardian Council] or an Individual [Khamenei] Screens the Candidates, I Cannot Vote [in the Iranian Elections]"
Interviewer: "You must have a view [on who will win the run-off presidential elections]."
Shirin Ebadi: "As long as a council [Iran's Guardian Council] or an individual [Iranian Leader Khamenei] screens the candidates, I cannot vote. Freedom cannot be achieved as long as an individual or a council acts as guardian.
"I am not a member of any party or opposition group. This is a private view and I do not expect others to follow it. Everyone is free to vote or to boycott the vote."
Interviewer: "Is Iran, in your opinion, moving towards more democracy and freedom?"
Ebadi: "...The future is a guessing game but the past is open to analysis. When the seventh parliamentary elections were held, many candidates were banned from running, including 85 who had been members of the sixth parliament. No proof of their ineligibility was given. Why [were they banned]? Because they criticized the conservatives.
"During the presidential elections some people – women included – were not allowed to run. This is a violation of international norms. The human rights situation in Iran is not what one might wish it to be."
(Excerpt) Read more at memri.org ...
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