By Mireya Rodriguez |Staff Writer|
“The Muslims who are being killed in Chechnya are not being talked about anywhere, but when ISIS commits this ugly act of beheading people, media all over the world depict it,” continued Ebadi.
Ebadi’s speech was interpreted by a translator as she spoke Farsi.
Ebadi, Juris Doctor, is the first woman, and Iranian to receive a Nobel Peace Prize. She received this award in 2003 for advocating democratic ideas and human rights.
“Let’s not forget that beheading is a practice in Saudi Arabia in the present year, 50 people have been beheaded in public in Saudi Arabia, that is what ISIS has done too,” continued Ebadi.
Ebadi said that it is “not until the people of the world know the culture and civilization of other people can we see peace in the world.”
“This is why I have always said instead of bombs, throw books at the Taliban, throw books at the ISIS,” added Ebadi, which was followed by a large applause.
Ebadi was the city court president of Tehran in 1975, becoming the first Iranian women Chief Justice.
She served four years before she was let go when the Islamic Revolution started in Feb. of 1979.
Ebadi earned her lawyer’s license in 1992, starting her own practice. She took on several cases that resulted in various arrests.
She created non-governmental organizations in Iran, and also led human rights campaigns. The Million Signatures Campaign she led focused on ending legal discrimination in Iranian Law on women.
Ebadi produced 70 articles and 12 books on human rights. Forbes Magazine named Ebadi one of the most powerful women in the world in 2004.
Elvis Rivera Salinas attended the “Ways to fight Islamic Fundamentalism” lecture and said, “before, I just knew that she was someone that was advocating for human rights, and that she won a Nobel Peace Prize.”
Salinas also said, “I didn’t know what to expect, or in what ways she was going to advocate fighting fundamentalism.”
Regarding the speech, Ece Algan said, “I believe Shirin Ebadi’s lecture was instrumental in helping us see that the inhuman practices of violence of extreme groups do not represent Islam. She also emphasized the importance for the U.S. not partnering with regimes like that of Saudi Arabia that funds these extreme groups like ISIS just for our oil interests.”
“Hearing the speech I think reinforces those views and it also made me admire her for doing that, in a place where those views aren’t yet accepted,” said Salinas.
After the lecture, Algan conducted a Q&A with Ebadi based on questions submitted by attendees.
Immediately following the session, Ebadi held a book signing of her book “The Golden Cage: Three Brothers, Three Choices, One Destiny,” which was available for purchase in the lobby.
Salinas said “[Ebadi] is not gonna stop.” She is here to stay.
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