ABBA NETWORK

With decades of struggle for human rights under his belt and a newcomer to Madrid to speak at a conference organized by the General Council of Lawyers, Shirin Ebadi spoke to ABC this upheaval in Iran.

“Your country is engaged in riots against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. How is the situation?
“The protests are growing and have gotten as small cities. In addition to that every day there is more activism and more strikes in the factories, people no longer afraid. They know that if they go out could end up in jail, yet they still do. And the government loses popular support by the day. Even among the fundamentalists there are differences …

- What solution is there?
“The only is that another election be held with UN observers. That election must be completely free and involve release of political prisoners.
“You and your family are suffering repression firsthand. Do you feel more persecuted than ever?
“I have no political office, not belong to any party and I do not name the Prime Minister. But being a human rights activist can not remain indifferent. And I give to other organizations reporting on the human rights situation in my country, that the wrath of the Government of Iran. Months before the election ended the human rights NGO founded and assaulted my law practice.

“The regime has acted against his sister and her husband.
“What we are doing is harassment for them which in turn will convince me that I stop what I’m doing. My husband has been detained in jail and my sister as a hostage, when neither are activists. My husband is an engineer and my sister dentist.
“No favors economic sanctions or military intervention in Iran. Maybe because he thinks the solution must come from within?
“That kind of measures can only worsen the situation and giving ammunition to the Government to radical. Any change must come from within Iranian society. All that we ask the international community not to support the government in the crackdown, and the important thing is that the world knows what is happening in Iran.

“Barack Obama shares with you the status of Nobel Peace Prize. Can there be accredited deserve in less than a year as president?
“No doubt the performance of President Obama is much better than Bush. A president can not be able to change all that must change in a year, but has made some important first steps. Do not forget that the first day in office ordered the closure of Guantanamo. Or who has declared that military intervention in Iraq was a mistake. Just for that I am worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize.

- Islam and democracy?
“Islam can be interpreted consistently with human rights, and reject those who use religion as an excuse for violating them.
- What do you think the Alliance of Civilizations promoted by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero?
“It’s a good project for psychology tells us that when we do not know the other what we fear and hate him. The solution lies in dialogue, but the important thing is that this exchange is given in all areas: among journalists, athletes, clergymen and writers.

- Do you see the commitment of adequate some in the West to banish the veil?
“I do not wear veils. In Islamic countries like Iran require women to wear the scarf, and women do not want. And in countries like France and Germany forced the woman to take it off, and she does not want. Do not understand why not let women do what they please. Rejection decisions taken with bigotry or prejudice.