Shirin Ebadi: ‘The national freedom council will be untouchable’
June 3, 2008
“In just a few weeks we will form a national freedom council. We have been preparing it for the last eight months,” said Shirin Ebadi. “We will establish this council on a broad foundation of civil society. We have been in contact with many organizations and groups: female student movements, environmental groups, unions and many others. I am excited that so many have confirmed their participation. In this way, we are convinced that this council will be untouchable.” Ebadi announced that the “national freedom council” will come together for the first time “in 40 days”.
The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate once again addressed members of the international media at a press conference during the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum in Bonn. She stated that journalists must “see themselves as members of a big family and stick together.” She furthered that by saying that they need to ensure that human rights messages are being highlighted throughout the world. Ebadi pointed out that in Iran, she is personally more present in the international media than the national media. She said that governing parties are very sensible with regards to public opinion, “even when they believe the opposite.” She said that the violation of human rights is an international problem and appealed to “media throughout the world to advocate for human rights – wherever they are being abused.”
Ebadi said that human rights activists are always concerned about being exploited. “That is why I always said that an improvement to the situation in Iran is up to the Iranians. We won’t allow Iran to become a second Iraq.” On the other hand, she stated that the danger of exploitation shouldn’t lead to her being silenced.
June 3, 2008