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Europe clearly is the only place where people can speak up critically, and this is a unique cultural value.

Shirin Ebadi

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Shirin Ebadi
Age: 77
Born: 1947
Born: June 21
Feminist
Human Rights Activist
Judge
Lawyer
Peace Activist
Politician
Writer
Hamedan
Cyrine Abadi
Value
Values
Speak
Place
Critically
People
Cultural
Clearly
Unique
Europe

More quotes by Shirin Ebadi

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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
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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.
Shirin Ebadi
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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
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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.
Shirin Ebadi
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Sixty-three percent of our university students are female. But you still see violations of women's rights in Iran. A Muslim man can have up to four wives. He can divorce his wife without offering any reason, while it is quite difficult for a woman to get a divorce.
Shirin Ebadi
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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
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I maintain that nothing useful and lasting can emerge from violence.
Shirin Ebadi
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democracy ... is not something that occurs overnight. It is not a gift delivered on a golden tray. Democracy is a long process of fighting, challenging accepted ideas, and perpetually striving for freedom. Like a seed that has to be watered every day to become a flower, democracy needs constant attention and care.
Shirin Ebadi
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I have never been convinced throughout my life that one needs to be imitating others. I even tell my daughters not to look at me as a model.
Shirin Ebadi
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When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp. The funny thing is that human rights activists and Mr. Bush can never be situated in the same group.
Shirin Ebadi
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We must not enable anyone to impose his personal view regarding religion on others by force, oppression, or pressure.
Shirin Ebadi
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There is a verse [in the Koran] that says God swears by time. Anything you gain in life, you pay for with your time. Time is the most important thing that has been given to man.
Shirin Ebadi
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Human rights is the fruit of various civilizations.
Shirin Ebadi
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Because of our youthful population, we suffer from unemployment in Iran. We need more universities and more job opportunities for the young.
Shirin Ebadi
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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
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Unfortunately the situation of human rights in Iran isn't improving. Some of the newspapers were shut down and the government didn't try to reopen the newspapers that were shut down before. And the laws are as bad as before.
Shirin Ebadi
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Over 60 percent of the university students in Iran are female. The women in Iran are better educated than men.
Shirin Ebadi
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North Americans do not understand that you do not throw down human rights like bombs on the Iraqis.
Shirin Ebadi
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Iran is a rich country, and if the people of this country are poor, it's because of the wrong policies of the government.
Shirin Ebadi
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Certainly, the fight against terrorism is a legitimate fight. And certainly whoever commits terrorism should be brought to justice.
Shirin Ebadi