Shirin Ebadi quotes - page 2

I, who have defended many prisoners of conscience such as the seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders and others, would face unacceptable restrictions on my human rights work if I returned to Iran, if I were not arrested, now my own lawyer - who also represents many other activists - is detained, and her lawyer has been threatened with arrest for defending her. Where is the justice if your lawyer is arrested for defending you? (Shirin Ebadi)
When more and more people want something, it becomes easier to achieve that goal.
Shirin Ebadi
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
What is important is that one utilizes one's intellect and not to be 100 percent sure about one's convictions. One should always leave room for doubt.
Shirin Ebadi
Democracy is not an incident that happens overnight, nor a gift that America can give to the world. It is a culture which needs peace to evolve.
Shirin Ebadi
When you vote, vote for those who are not warmongers, and vote for those who respect human rights. When you see a president who doesn't respect human rights, don't vote for that person.
Shirin Ebadi
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
It's not just about hope and ideas. It's about action.
Shirin Ebadi
If you can't eliminate injustice, at least tell everyone about it.
Shirin Ebadi
Whenever women protest and ask for their rights, they are silenced with the argument that the laws are justified under Islam. It is an unfounded argument. It is not Islam at fault, but rather the patriarchal culture that uses its own interpretations to justify whatever it wants.
Shirin Ebadi
We demand a non-violent world where human security is the basis of our common global security. People have the right to live in a world where the basic needs of all peoples are addressed. No more military attacks. No more war. (Shirin Ebadi)
Human rights is the fruit of various civilizations.
Shirin Ebadi
People are fundamentally good. But conditions deteriorate them.
Shirin Ebadi
Those who don't understand any language other than the language of force and violence don't respect human dignity. They seek violence because they will be irrelevant without it. We should not go their way.
Shirin Ebadi
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
There is no "true Islam," just different interpretations.
Shirin Ebadi
North Americans do not understand that you do not throw down human rights like bombs on the Iraqis.
Shirin Ebadi
Every time I am fearful I think to myself, the reason they do this is to discourage me from doing what I do. Hence, if I discontinue my work I will have succumbed to my fears.
Shirin Ebadi
Everyone's condition is different, and the way that each person lives his or her life is different.
Shirin Ebadi
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
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)
Islam is not an excuse for thwarting democracy.
Shirin Ebadi
Europe clearly is the only place where people can speak up critically, and this is a unique cultural value.
Shirin Ebadi
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
We must acquaint the youth to the realities of the world... we must tell them that millions of people around the world have no access to drinking water.
Shirin Ebadi