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.Salam
and greetings.
Shirin Ebadi, a human rights activist in Iran, much
to the discomfort of the hardliners in Iran and gratification
of the reformists, has been awarded the 2003 Nobel
Peace Prize. Whether during the revolt against the
Shah, an American puppet, or during the post-revolution
period, Iranian women have been active, vocal and
indomitable participants in the full spectrum of social
activism. No dress code has been an impediment for
their assertive role to make vital differences without
sacrificing their Islamic identity.
Besides the hardline clerics in Iran, Poland's Lech
Walesa was very unhappy about this particular choice.
[Nobel peace choice "a big mistake": Poland's
Lech Walesa; http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/51629/1/.html]
May the voices of the enlightenment and conscience
continue to be strengthened and may also Ebadi inspire
other women in the Muslim world that they have valuable
role to play in all fields, including the field of
democracy and human rights.
She is also part of a struggle that one may characterize
as "Islam confronts Islam in Iran." [http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:hAZrHptixRgJ:mondediplo.com/1999/06/02iran+shirin+ebadi+chador&hl;=en&ie;=UTF-8]
It is a confrontation that must take place and Muslim
women's role and participation can only solidify the
trend in the desired direction. As indicated in ABC
News report, her struggle is against political powers,
institutions and laws that infringe human rights.
It is not against Islam. In her view, "there
is no difference between Islam and human rights."
[http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20031010_589.html]
===================================
Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq
http://www.globalwebpost.com/farooqm
By PARINOOSH ARAMI and PARISA HAFEZI
No official fanfare for Nobel win in Iran
Courtesy: New Zealand Herald [October 11, 2003]
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3528327&thesection=news&thesubsection=world
TEHRAN - Iran's first Nobel Peace Prize has been met
without fanfare by official media, but reformers have
cheered lawyer Shirin Ebadi's achievement as a victory
for women's rights and political change in the Islamic
Republic.
Conservative-controlled State television and radio
took several hours to announce Ebadi's award, then
did so without comment, reflecting the ongoing struggle
between Iran's reformists and conservatives over Iran's
political destiny.
Vice President Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a close aide to
pro-reform President Mohammad Khatami, told Reuters
the announcement was "very good news for every
Iranian" and a sign of the active role played
by Iranian women in politics.
He stressed the comments reflected his personal view,
not that of the government.
But individual conservatives, who have long viewed
Ebadi's activities as a defender of women's rights
and lawyer for political dissidents as a threat to
the Islamic system, reacted angrily to the Nobel Committee's
decision.
"Although we may be happy that an Iranian has
won the prize we believe the Nobel Peace Prize is
being used to suit political objectives," said
Amir Mohebian, an editor of the hardline conservative
Resalat newspaper.
"This prize carries the message that Europe intends
to put further pressure on human rights issues in
Iran as a political move to achieve its particular
objectives," he said.
Since coming to office in a 1997 landslide, Khatami's
reformist government has struggled to break the stranglehold
on power enjoyed by unelected conservatives opposed
to any watering down of what they say are Islamic
principles.
Over the past four years scores of liberal newspapers
have been shut down and dozens of pro-reform activists
jailed by the hardline judiciary. Ebadi herself has
been briefly jailed and was banned from practising
law for five years in 2000.
STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY
International criticism of Iran's human rights record
-- including the legal discrimination against women
and the use of public executions and stonings -- has
met with stern rebukes for other nations not to interfere
in Iran's internal affairs.
Leading reformist parliamentarian Elahe Koulaei said
Ebadi's award was a sign the Nobel Committee had recognised
the importance of the struggle for greater democracy
in Iran.
"We have to congratulate the Iranian nation,
particularly women, on her success and consider it
a success for all of those who are attempting to improve
human rights and remove oppression throughout the
world," she said.
Reformist political analyst Saeed Leylaz, noting that
jailed Iranian dissident Hashem Aghajari had also
been tipped to win the Nobel prize this year, said
the award reflected renewed international interest
in Iran's political evolution.
"I'm very excited as an Iranian and I congratulate
her. I hope it helps to push reforms forward in Iran.
It shows that the strategy of pushing reforms through
peaceful methods is the best way," he said.
Many ordinary Iranians were surprised to hear that
Ebadi, a well-known but not high-profile figure in
her own country, had become the 11th women to win
the prize.
"The authorities considered her a spy bent on
overthrowing the system, but look at what she has
done for our country," said Fariba, a 36-year-old
law graduate. "I hope that this will encourage
other people to follow her path," she said.
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