Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts hosted exiled Iranian human rights advocate, Shirin Ebadi, on campus May 2 for a program that elicited the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s views on issues including the killing of Osama bin Laden, the movements for regime changes in the Middle East, U.S. policy in the Middle East and Iran, Islam and secularity and feminism, cultural relativism, social media, and world human rights standards.

The recipient of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to promote human rights in Iran, Dr. Ebadi told program organizers that she is living under threat from the Iranian government which has pledged to seek her out and kill her wherever she is in the world.   Despite this, Ebadi stated clear positions on issues as she responded to questions posed by the program conversants and audience. 

On the U.S. approach to the war on terror and the killing of Osama bin Laden by the U. S. military, Ebadi said, “I have always been against things such as the Guantanamo Bay prison, but I believe they carried out justice when they raided the residence of Osama bin Laden and killed him.”  Ebadi asked the audience to remember that the U.S. has, for many years, called for bin Laden to come to trial and during these 10 years, he has trained more terrorists so, she said, there was no other option.

On the current movements for regime changes in the Middle East:  “In my opinion, the Islamic countries are almost obtaining democracy… Iran will get there.  It may be sooner or it may be later, but they will get there.”

On whether or not the U.S. government should intervene to promote democracy in Middle East:  “The promotion of democracy in each country is mostly the responsibility, the duty of the people of each country and the United States does not have the right to meddle in the internal affairs of countries, even Iran.” Ebadi said, “Fortunately, decisions have been made by the U.S. [that can advantage democracy], such as naming and distributing the names of people whom sanctions have been imposed upon… but we are wrong if we think that we can just bomb for democracy like the U.S. did in Iraq.”

On Iran’s nuclear development program and Western governments’ policies toward Iran:  “Iran needs to stop its nuclear program… For international peace, the non-democratic regimes are more dangerous than nuclear bombs and that’s why I say that the West needs to pay more attention to human rights in  Iran.”  Ebadi said that people in Iran are dissatisfied with the Iranian regime because of the lack of human rights and the bad economic situation.  Though people who object are repressed harshly, she said, they do not forget and victory is at hand.

On how Islam should be interpreted:  “Islam is a religion just like any other religion and has a place in our hearts.  Islam, just like any other religion, if they obtain political power, it can abuse that power and that is why I believe in secularism and at the same time, am Muslim.  And I believe in freedom of religion… What is important is that we should not allow someone to use religion against people. “

On Islam and the rights of women: “If we interpret Islam correctly, we can come to equality for men and women.”

Ebadi said that she believes that human rights are universal and that cultural relativism regarding human rights is wrong.  She said she believes that human rights can be implemented in Islamic countries, but that education is needed to pave the way.  “Education is really important to promote human rights, but the issue is that the non-democratic regimes do not allow such education and that’s where we say that human rights go hand in hand with democracy… We were teaching human rights in Iran and whoever cooperated with us was sentenced [by the Iranian regime] to five years’ incarceration so human rights and democracy are like twins brothers.”

On why she identifies herself as Muslim instead of an Iranian:   Ebadi said that she wants to show that she knows what she is talking about, that she speaks from inside the Islamic religion even though it has been used as a method of oppression: "I introduce myself as a Muslim because I want people to know that Islam is not just Osama bin Laden.  I am Muslim.  I am not ashamed of it.”

On what young Iranians in the U.S. can do to help human rights in Iran:  “Study hard, and then go back to Iran.”

Dr. Ebadi thanked the many American universities who accept Iranian students and give them the opportunity to be educated here.  “Long live the relationship and friendship between the American and Iranian nations," she said.

Dr. Ebadi spoke in Farsi with an interpreter relaying her words to an audience of nearly 170 people.  Her appearance at Georgia Tech was co-sponsored by Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, Georgia Tech’s Office of the Provost, the Office of International Initiatives, The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, and the School of Modern Languages. 

Conversants for the event were Laura Bier, Assistant Professor, School of History, Technology, and Society and Molly Cochran, Associate Professor, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs.  Dean Jacqueline J. Royster, who moderated, announced the initiation of courses in Farsi in the College’s School of Modern Languages.

Shirin Ebadi is a lawyer and former judge in Iran.  She is the first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.  She was in Atlanta to witness the graduation of her daughter and son-in-law from Georgia Tech's Electrical Engineering graduate program.

Watch the video of the program