Refusing To Be Silenced: Iranian Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi to Speak in Boulder (Part 1)

There is a lot of talk about Iran these days.

From the highly criticized, and widely protested, re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad this past June, to international condemnation about the country's "nuclear proliferation activities" (which Iranian authorities repeatedly deny), Iran is at the center of the debate on stability in the Middle East.

So where are the voices of Iranian women in the debate?

One woman who has been speaking out is Iran's 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Shirin Ebadi, and she will be speaking here in Colorado on Friday Oct. 9th, 7pm at Naropa University in Boulder (click the link to buy tickets in advance).

Shirin Ebadi, the first Iranian and only Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, has come out strongly against discrimination and injustice in her country, despite great risk to her own safety. In 2000, she spent a month in solitary confinement after defending the family of a student killed by police during protests.

Ebadi believes that because decisions in Iran are being made behind closed doors, away from public scrutiny, then neglecting democracy is a lot more dangerous than owning a nuclear weapon. A bold statement for her belief in the power of democracy, and one that goes hand-in-hand with her condemnation of the Iranian government's crackdown on election protesters.

The Iranian Intelligence Ministry has repeatedly summoned her husband and her brother for interrogations and ordered them to silence her. They told her husband that they could track her down wherever she was in the world. But despite the threats she continues to speak out, saying "Naturally the Iranian Government doesn't want the world to know what's happening in Iran, so it's my duty to inform as many people as possible,"

For years I worked for Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights, during which I met dozens of women human rights defenders who, like Ebadi, risked everything to stand up for truth and justice.

I often wondered if I myself would have the courage to risk my life for my belief in universal human rights.

In 2007, I got the chance to find out when I was detained in Tibet by Chinese authorities for staging a pre-Olympics Tibetan Freedom protest on Mt. Everest. Five of us spent three days in detention being interrogated and threatened. It has taken years to deal with the trauma that single event caused for my family and I. I don't think I could ever return to China and challenge that regime again, not if I knew I would face much worse the second time.

Shirin Ebadi has been denounced by the state-controlled media in Iran and charged in abstentia with conspiring against the state. She has been traveling since the elections, after which she was advised by colleagues not to return. But she plans to go home in a couple of months, daring the regime to arrest the only Iranian to win a Nobel Prize. If not imprisoned, she has said she will fight to secure justice for the families of those killed in the crackdown.

It takes serious courage to choose to return to her homeland to face further imprisonment ... and before she does, she is coming to Colorado!

This is a rare opportunity for all of us to hear from a leading Iranian peace advocate about her vision for human rights and women's rights in Islam, and she will not be alone. Notable Muslim women, pioneers in the fields of conflict resolution, peace-building, community organizing, human rights, interfaith dialogue, media and Islamic thought will join Dr. Ebadi in a daylong symposium on Sat. October 10th, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

If you can't make it, I will be covering it for the Huffington Post and will bring you the highlights in Part 2 ... though there may be too many to fit into a blog because Shirin Ebadi and her colleagues are bold and brave and they have a lot to say about women's leadership and activism in the Muslim world. Will you be listening?

When asked recently if she will stay silent on her return to Iran, Dr. Ebadi replied, "Never. If nobody stands up to them they will act even worse."

Join me,

Kiri Westby
Change-Maker/Rule-Breaker/Story-Teller

Featured contributor to Ed and Deb Shapiro's new book, BE THE CHANGE, How Meditation Can Transform You And The World, with forewords by HH Dalai Lama and Robert Thurman.

 

Comments

[MerhabaAbi]

Hi Kiri,

What a wonderful opportunity for Boulder. Unfortunately, I'm nowhere near the place. Were you instrumental in convincing Dr Ebadi to speak there? She is a brave and wise woman. Often couragousness is disassociated with compassion and centeredness. I think dedicated actions that require sacrifice are the greatest teachers. Solitary confinement in Iran is not a pleasant prospect and for Dr. Ebadi to risk that or torture for the cause of democracy and women's rights is a very profound statement indeed. Thanks again for a fantastic blog. If you record the speach and transcribe it, I think that'd be great

Sincere fan
little brother

[Kiri Westby - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi little brother!

I was not instrumental in bringing Dr. Ebadi to Colorado, but feel so fortunate that I will get to meet her and ask some questions for my readers. I hope to get a transcription of her speech and will certainly bring you the highlights in my follow up blog. She is a huge inspiration for me and my continued activism for women around the world.

Thanks for being a fan,

Kiri

[LongmontKathy]

Dr. Ebadi is a reminder for us to go behind the headlines and prevailing US v THEM narrative about Iran. I look forward to reading Kiri's report on the talk at Boulder's Naropa University, given Kiri's own experience of being arrested for advocating human rights.

[FrankCornish]

Is Nader Hashemi going to be there on the 9th as well? Since he teaches in Denver, I would think he could participate too. His book, Islam, Secularism, and Liberal Democracy: Toward a Democratic Theory for Muslim Societies is excellent.

Thanks.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Kiri

This is amazing. Can't wait to read your next blog after you cover the event.

It is so important to understand what is going on from a different vantage point than the President of Iran and the Mullahs ...

Joy,

Ed

[kendrahodgson]

Wow. Thank you for sharing about Shirin Ebadi and what she is facing. Her courage is inspiring. I didn't know about her story until just reading your blog. I will be paying attention to her now. As a woman, I have experienced discrimination, but it has always been subtle -- more patronizing and dismissive than overt and frightening. As someone willing to speak my mind about progressive issues, I have never been met with more than angry resistance. I don't know what I would do if I were Ebadi. I can't imagine returning home to likely imprisonment and possible torture. However, she has the attention of the international community, and she is in the position to issue this challenge. . . Wow, a true example of a person who knows in her bones that she is so much more than just herself. . . I am so grateful that there are women like Ebadi, who have the strength and courage to use their lives to challenge injustice, but I will be wishing for her safety. And I am grateful to you for bringing Ebadi's story to my attention. I'll look forward to reading your report from the front lines.

I'm glad I found your blog last week!
Take care,
Kendra

[Kiri Westby - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Kendra,

It always makes me feel so good to know that the effort I put into writing a blog does not go unnoticed, and even better yet shines a light on an important person and situation for the first time...how fabulous!

I too do not know what I would do if I were Dr. Ebadi, her courage and strength gives me courage in my everyday life. My daily challenges suddenly seem small and simple to overcome in comparison.

I am excited to meet her and to bring you her words in my follow-up blog.

Good to be connected!
Kiri

[Sezin]

Wonderful! I'm so glad that she'll be able to make some appearances in the USA before heading back to Iran. With all the hoopla surrounding Ahmedinejad, it's easy to forget that there are Iranians like Dr. Ebadi who are fighting for the rights of average Iranians. Enjoy her speech and looking forward to reading your write-up.

[Kiri Westby - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Sezin,

Yes! We need more out there on the Iranian heroes who are risking everything to stand up to Ahmedinejad and his cronies. I am humbled and honored to be able to meet Dr. Ebadi next week and to share her story with my readers....thanks for being one of them!

Love,
Kiri

[Khirad]

Can't wait. And yes, I will be watching to see if they dare arrest her for being a spy (i.e. woman who dares challenge the government).

I also can't wait for the critics who say things like, 'Saudi Arabia is so much worse, and university students, and all that; be grateful for what you have and move to the back of the bus'. Yeah, well Mrs. Ebadi was a judge before the revolution. Wanna know why she isn't now? Not for ties to the Shah, but because of her ovaries. She could have left for good a long time ago and bristles at the thought that Iran needs foreign help, instead, she wants to challenge the Islamic Republic to grow the eff up and become truly democratic and equal - not the authoritarian and capricious regime of misogynistic hezbollahi thugs.

This is where the debate on Iran really needs to be. Not on nuclear rights; but universal human rights.

[Kiri Westby - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Khirad! I couldn't agree more. Dr. Ebadi is bravely using her image as a Nobel laureate to challenge the powers that be by demanding accountability and justice and calling for change. I am in awe of her strength and courage and hope that more people out there will learn about her struggle and use their voice to help keep her safe upon her return to Tehran.

Thanks for commenting,
Kiri