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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
Deteriorate
Fundamentally
Conditions
Good
People

More quotes by 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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If you can't eliminate injustice, at least tell everyone about it.
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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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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Lawyers have a dangerous job 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 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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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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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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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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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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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
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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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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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The role of Iran has been very destructive. As an Iranian, I apologize to the civilian people of Syria who have been killed as a result of the useless intervention of Iran in Syria.
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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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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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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Contrary to what certain governments say, human rights are universal. Arbitrary detention, torture and discrimination hurt the human dignity of anybody, whatever his or her country of origin, religion, descent, or any other ground.
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