Iranian Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi says nuclear disputes with Iran should not distract world powers from pressuring the Islamic Republic government on human rights issues.
AFP reports that at a meeting of Nobel Peace laureates in Chicago on April 24, Ebadi said she was happy that Iran and the U.S. are both of the opinion that the nuclear talks in Istanbul had been successful. She said, however, that the Islamic Republic government has been at war with human rights for the past 30 years and has shown that it has no intention of reconciling with the people.
Ebadi stressed that human rights issues should be a part of all international negotiations with Iran.
She added that the peace and democracy movement in Iran is very forceful, despite the recent government crackdown.
The Iranian lawyer added that the women’s movement in Iran is unique in all of Middle East because Iranian women have a high level of education and also because Iranian men are aware that true reform in the country can only be realized through respect for women’s rights.
Ebadi went on to say that, contrary to the statements by some members of the clergy, there are no contradictions between Islam and respect for human rights. “We can be Muslim and, with a proper understanding of Islam, reach equal rights for women,” the Nobel Peace laureate maintained.
The three-day summit of Nobel Peace laureates, which ends today, was also attended by Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev, Lech Walesa, the Dalai Lama and Bill Clinton.
