Prior to the second round of presidential elections in Iran, which was won by Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi gave an interview to the Egyptian Al-Ahram Weekly, in which she discussed the recent Iranian elections, the status of women in Islamic society, and democracy. The following are excerpts from the interview: [1]
"As Long as a Council [the Guardian Council] or an Individual [Khamenei] Screens the Candidates, I Cannot Vote [in the Iranian Elections]"
Interviewer: "You must have a view [on who will win the run-off presidential elections]."
Shirin Ebadi: "As long as a council [Iran's Guardian Council] or an individual [Iranian Leader Khamenei] screens the candidates, I cannot vote. Freedom cannot be achieved as long as an individual or a council acts as guardian.
"I am not a member of any party or opposition group. This is a private view and I do not expect others to follow it. Everyone is free to vote or to boycott the vote."
Interviewer:"Is Iran, in your opinion, moving towards more democracy and freedom?"
Ebadi: "...The future is a guessing game but the past is open to analysis. When the seventh parliamentary elections were held, many candidates were banned from running, including 85 who had been members of the sixth parliament. No proof of their ineligibility was given. Why [were they banned]? Because they criticized the conservatives.
"During the presidential elections some people – women included – were not allowed to run. This is a violation of international norms. The human rights situation in Iran is not what one might wish it to be."
"Democracy as it Exists in Iran is Better than That of Neighboring Countries … [But Still] Needs to Move Forward"
Interviewer: "How would you compare democracy in Iran with democracy in the region?"
Ebadi: "... Democracy is a culture, expressed and reflected in laws and state administration. The ultimate criterion is what people want...
"Democracy as it exists in Iran is better than that of neighboring countries. The Iranian people want more democracy, and the level of democracy available in Iran falls short of their expectations. Democracy needs to move forward in Iran."
Interviewer:"How do you view U.S. pressure on Iran?"
Ebadi: "When foreign danger threatens any country, it is used as an excuse to pressure liberals. Anyone who criticizes the state is branded as a foreign agent.
"I do not approve of any potential U.S. attack against Iran, or even of the threat [of an attack]. The situation facing democracy in Iran, let me reiterate, is far from ideal but it is up to the Iranians, and only the Iranians, to improve that situation."
"Why Did the U.S. Attack This Dictator [Saddam] and Leave Others? …Because Iraq Possesses Huge Oil Reserves"
Interviewer:"How do you assess the situation in the Middle East?"
Ebadi: "Since the collapse of the Soviet regime, the Middle East has been the scene of chaos, wars and internal strife. This is due to the fact that huge oil reserves lie in the region, reserves that are the lifeline of Western technology.
"Saddam Hussein was a dictator, no one disputes that, and Iraqis were happy to see him go. But was Saddam the only dictator in the world? Why did the U.S. attack this dictator and leave others? The reason is because Iraq possesses huge oil reserves..."
Interviewer:"How do you assess the world order following 9/11? Where is the world heading?"
Ebadi: "Sadly, the poor are getting poorer and the rich richer. We have to alleviate poverty. Once there is social justice, and a judicial order, one will be able to talk of world order.
"What we have now is not a world order, but world exploitation."
"Why is the Situation of Women in the Muslim World so Deplorable? …Because the Dominant Culture in Islamic Countries is Patriarchal"
Interviewer:"You're the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. How do you see thecondition of women in Iran, the Middle East, and the world?"
Ebadi: "Women are being discriminated against in the Muslim world, and they do not have the same rights as men. The level of discrimination differs from one country to another. In some countries, such as Saudi Arabia, women lack the right to participate even in municipal elections. In other countries, such as Bangladesh, Malaysia and Pakistan, things are better and women have become presidents and prime ministers. In some Islamic countries polygamy is allowed, in others it is banned..."
Interviewer:"... Is it Islam that discriminates between men and women or is it due to the cultural legacy of the Muslim world?"
Ebadi: "It is not Islam that is unfair to women. Islam gave them special status. At a time when women in Europe had no rights Islam gave women many rights, including the right to own property.
"There is a famous saying by the Prophet Mohammad that goes, 'women are slighted by evil men and honored by honorable men.' The Koran treats men and women equally whenever it refers to the faithful.
"Why is the situation of women in the Muslim world so deplorable? The answer is because the dominant culture in Islamic countries is patriarchal. This culture interprets religion according to its own interests. I will give you an example. In Iran, there is a law stipulating that the financial compensation, or diya, for accidentally killing a woman is half that for killing a man...
"Does this make sense? Is this based on Islam? Of course not, it is an erroneous interpretation of Islam based on a patriarchal culture. An Iranian scholar, Ayatollah Sanei, has disputed this law, saying that 'the diya for both women and men is the same in Islam, and anyone who claims otherwise is mistaken'."
"We Need an Interpretation Suiting the Needs of Our Time and Place; 600-Year-Old Interpretations are No Longer Satisfactory"
Ebadi: "Another example, following the revolution in Iran, women were prohibited from serving as judges. Women judges were transferred to administrative jobs within the judicial system. I, along with other liberal women, disputed the decision. We wrote articles and organized seminars. It took the judicial authorities 13 years to restore to women the right to serve as judges. Now we have women judges in Iran.
"The correct interpretation of Islam would lead to the approval of women's rights. If you go to the website of Ayatollah Sanei you will find a ruling to the effect that women can serve in the most senior clerical posts. It all depends on how you interpret Islam...
"We need an interpretation that suits the needs of our time and place. Interpretations made 600 years ago are no longer satisfactory. Contemporary problems call for contemporary solutions. The world cannot be governed by ancient perspectives."
"The Nobel Prize Gave Me Advantages Outside Iran, but Inside the Country Nothing Has Changed"
Interviewer:"Has the Nobel Prize given you any advantages inside Iran? And has your voice become more influential outside the country?"
Ebadi: "The Nobel Prize gave me advantages outside Iran, but inside the country nothing has changed.
"When I was awarded the prize, Iranian state-run television and radio mentioned nothing about the matter. The Iranian media reported the news one full day after the announcement was made, apart from one television channel which carried the story at 11 pm, when everyone was asleep.
"But abroad things were different and I was allowed to publicize my opinions loud and clear."
Endnote:
[1] Al-Ahram Weekly (Iran), issue No. 749, June 30 - July 6, 2005, http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/749/re6.htm.
