Human rights cannot "be imposed with cluster bombs": Shirin Ebadi
When it comes to humanity the borders are still intact, says Nobel laureate
Criticises U.S.-sponsored "war on terrorism"
Opposes forced wearing of the hejab A CRUSADER: Nobel Peace Prize winner
Shirin Ebadi with West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi in Kolkata on
Thursday. KOLKATA: For Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi "human rights is a
package....a way of seeing the world, a culture, which cannot "be imposed with
cluster bombs" and brought to countries "in tanks".
"The world is turning into a unified village. We can see that in finance
borders are eliminated. But when it comes to humanity the borders are still
intact. And the problem is here. What needs to be globalised is human rights",
the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, said in conversation with a select
media group here on Thursday. Known for her crusade on human rights, Ms.
Ebadi, who practises law in her country Iran where she "magically" escaped two
assassination attempts, is particularly critical of the U.S.-sponsored "war on
terrorism" and its effect on human rights. "Violence always brings violence."
"Have we found the roots of terrorism?" she asks.
"Unfortunately today fighting terrorism has become a pretext to violate
human rights. And states use national security to increase their power and
control of the people. None of this will reduce terrorism," Ms. Ebadi who is on
a brief visit to the city observed.
"Under that pretext of fighting terrorism America invaded Iraq and
Afghanistan. Has it been reduced? Unfortunately it is only augmenting and
increasing by the day. This can only mean that they have forgotten addressing
the roots [of terrorism] and focusing on the end results... ." she said. "We
need to fight terrorism at its roots. Humanity is now on a boat. Everyone's
fate is inter-related. Controlling the lives of citizens, listening in to their
phone conversations, interfering with the private lives of people and limiting
social and individual freedoms is not the answer. Human rights are
inextricably linked with the question of democracy. "Today the U.S. claims it
is in Iraq because it wants to put democracy on the pole. There is no question
that Saddam [Hussein] was a dictator but my question is, was Saddam the only
dictator in the world? Unfortunately we have many. The difference was that in
Iraq oil can be found and in many other places it cannot." She is
both "against the forced wearing of the hejab as well against forcing women
not to wear it... .women's rights, according to a famous saying, are human
rights." "All the limitations have always been imposed on women, men are free
to wear whatever they want to whether in Islamic countries or western
countries, it always depends on who benefits from such impositions." As for
her views on the Shariat, "we need an interpretation of Islam which complies
with human rights." Has the Nobel Prize changed her life? "An award does not
change one's personality. It has only increased my work. I still go to court, I
still cook... Of course many doors have opened in the international arena and I
am able to bring my voice to a lot many people" Ms. Ebadi, who has almost
completed her next book on "fighting poverty." "But I always wish that a day
would be made up of 48 hours. The reason is, I have many thoughts that I can't
find time to put down on paper." To her a writer "does
not write anything, it is the pen which does the writing." " I must abide by
the pen and see where it takes me," she says. Her last book titled `Iran
Awakening; A Memoir of Revolution and Hope' has been translated into 18
languages.
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Source: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/24/stories/2006112402491500.htm
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