|
Muslim
Women’s League Congratulates Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Prize Winner
The Muslim Women’s League extends its congratulations to
the Iranian lawyer and human rights activist Shirin Ebadi for
receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
As a Muslim woman, Shirin Ebadi represents a role model of
courage for other women by representing the most vulnerable in
society against considerable odds.
Read
her acceptance speech.
As a lawyer, judge and the founder of the Association for
Support of Children’s Rights in Iran, she has advocated for women,
children and refugees as well as political dissidents.
She struggles to create change from within an Islamic framework
which guarantees the rights of equality and equity for all members of
society. Her work is based on the premise that all are entitled to equal
and equitable treatment within Iran’s legal system.
The Nobel Prize winner views Islam as incorporating the
promotion of humanitarian values and the establishment of human rights.
She also notes that women are oppressed, in Iran and other Middle
Eastern countries because of the cultural aspect of “male dominance”.
She urges women to change their condition by becoming more
knowledgeable about their religion specifically, through the study of
the Holy
Quran.
In her interview with the National Public Radio (NPR) she
emphasized that she does not see a conflict between her struggle for
justice and Islam. Islam, a
religion of peace and a way of life with submission to the will of God,
promotes the struggle of working towards a more just society, stressing
the idea of protecting and supporting the most vulnerable.
“Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that
is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: they are
the ones to attain felicity” (Quran 3:104).
“Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no
hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of God with their goods
and their persons. God
hath granted a grade higher to those who strive…” (Quran 4:95).
Bearing
these verses of Quran to heart, individuals like Sharon Ebadi are the real
vicegerents of God on this earth. They
stand up for truth and justice. Their
firm convictions are reflected through their actions, which benefit all of
society. We join Ms. Ebadi
and others like her who are striving to establish peace, justice and truth
around the globe.
October 13, 2003 |
