United Nations Radio

Shirin Ebadi with journalist

INTRO: The 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi of Iran is known for her work in the area of human rights. She is in New York to speak with the UN Secretary-General about human rights in her country. Gerry Adams asked her about the Nobel Prize and about women's rights:

Ebadi:  The Nobel Prize has provided me with more loudspeakers so that I can bring my voice to more people in the world. That's why I think it has helped me. Of course the government claims that this prize has been given to me because of my disagreement with the government but I don't accept their claim because for the last 30 years, there has been censorship against me all over. My pictures are censored. I cannot speak on the radio or appear on television and I cannot write.

Adams: The Islamic Revolution took place about 1979 and we saw that women's positions were downgraded. In fact, you were demoted from a trial judge to a court clerk. How did you and professional women in general react to such an insult?

Ebadi: The women of Iran are totally against the discriminatory laws against them and misogynistic laws that exist in Iran. For example, if a woman and a man are walking on the street and a terrorist attacks them and they are both injured as a result of that incident, the damages paid to the woman are half of that paid to the man. Testimony of two women in court equals testimony of one man. A man can marry four wives and divorce his wife for no excuse. If a woman marries, she does not have the permission to travel unless her husband agrees, whereas for years, numerous university students in Iran have been female. At the present time, 60% of the university students in Iran are female. Numerous of our professors are women. We have women lawyers, women doctors, women engineers, directors at different levels of the government are women. They have been fighting against these laws for years and they have had a few successes.

Adams: Why are you in New York at this time?

Ebadi: I am here to bring Mr. Ban Ki-moon up to date on the situation of Iran and also to talk to different missions regarding the situation of Iran. There is a resolution, a draft being prepared which will go to the Security Council on the violations of hr in Iran and that's why I am here.

Producer: Gerry Adams
Duration: 2'35"