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People are fundamentally good. But conditions deteriorate them.

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
Good
People
Deteriorate
Fundamentally
Conditions

More quotes by 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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I have said many times that I wish there was no oil in the Middle East, and more water. People would have been much happier than they are right now.
Shirin Ebadi
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I know of no civilization that tolerates or justifies violence, terrorism, or injustice. There is no civilization that justifies the killing of innocent people. Those who are invoking cultural relativism are really using that as an excuse for violating human rights and to put a cultural mask on the face of what they're doing.
Shirin Ebadi
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The Iranian government intends to use the nuclear program for peaceful purposes, but must convince international public opinion of that.
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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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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My hopes for Iran's future lies with women first and foremost. Iran's feminist movement is very strong. This movement has no leader or head quarters. Its place is the home of every Iranian who believes in equal rights. This is currently the strongest women's movement in the Middle East.
Shirin Ebadi
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Terrorism is based on two major pillars: One is injustice, and the other is a certainty of attitude, the notion that their version of the story is the correct one.
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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I maintain that nothing useful and lasting can emerge from violence.
Shirin Ebadi
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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
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While living in exile I have become the loudspeaker for the people of Iran.
Shirin Ebadi
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Democracy doesn't recognize east or west and 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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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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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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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 the fear.
Shirin Ebadi
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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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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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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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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