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'I Want to Die in my Country'

NEWSWEEK
12 October, 2003

By Marie Valla, Newsweek Web Exclusive

Iranian human-rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi, 56, was on her way to the Paris airport to catch a plane back to Tehran when she heard on the radio she'd won the Nobel Peace Prize. Ebadi, who'd been in France for a speaking engagement, was as shocked by the news as anyone. Little known outside her home country and human-rights circles, she was picked from a field that included ailing Pope John Paul II. The next morning, she sat down with NEWSWEEK to talk about the situation in Iran and how the prize might help to change it.

NEWSWEEK: Is your prize a watershed for democracy in Iran?
SHIRIN EBADI: I hope it is. I always acted within the law; I never did anything that was illegal. I support peaceful protests. But when things go wrong I'm there to defend the victims, for free. In 1999, when the student dormitories were attacked, I defended one of the victim's family in court and this is what led me to be jailed. So I hope that this prize will give supporters of human rights in Iran the courage and the energy to continue. As a matter of fact, the biggest benefit of this prize is to show that it still is possible to stay in Iran and work for the advancement of human rights there.

Do you think that the regime can reform itself or is it stuck in a deadlock between the reformers and the old guard?

I believe that it still is possible to bring reform to the regime, but it is now high time for action as well as pragmatic thinking. Even in Iran where there hasn't been any significant reform, the number of people who support reform has increased. It gives me hope that it will eventually happen.

Can human-rights exist in an Islamic republic?

There is no contradiction between an Islamic republic, Islam and human rights. If in many Islamic countries human rights are flouted, this is because of a wrong interpretation of Islam. All I've tried to do in the last 20 years was to prove that with another interpretation of Islam, it would be possible to introduce democracy to Muslim countries. We need an interpretation of Islam that leaves much more space for women to take action. We need an Islam that is compatible with democracy and one that's respectful of individual rights.

You didn't cover your head with the hijab, or veil, at the press conference. Did you want to make a statement?

Inside Iran, a woman is required by law to wear the hijab so I wear it. But as I mentioned, I believe that with a more progressive interpretation of Islam we can change this. I believe that it is up to individual women to decide whether they want to wear the hijab or not.

What do you think will happen when you return to Iran? Are you scared?

Everything happened so quickly that I haven't even had time to really think about it. I am not scared at all and I don't care so much about what happens to me. I will go back to Iran because I am Iranian and I want to die in my country. Imagine you're home and your mother is a sick old woman whereas your neighbor next door is a younger and more dynamic mother. Still, you'll stay with your sick old mother because she is your mother. When I'm in Paris, where thanks to the French Revolution people have all rights, of course I enjoy it and I'm happy. But it is not my home.

What is your hope for the future of Iran?

I hope that young Iranians can go further than me. My generation had very little means to keep itself informed. When I was young we had neither computers nor the Internet. Our only source of information was a small library at the University. So I hope that today's young people can do much more and do better for our country than I did.

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