The Social Forum of the Rototom lived yesterday one of its most important and emotional moments, welcoming Shirin Ebadi, Peace Nobel Prize, lawyer and human rights, equality and democracy activist. The journalist Rosa María Calaf interviewed this Iranian fighter in front of hundreds of people, who followed attentively everything she said.
Ebadi revealed the difficulties lived by Iranians every day due to poverty and a regime, which suppresses and censors them. "Iran is a big prision", the Nobel Prize said, because is one of the countries of the world where there are more journalists imprisioned and also a big number of civilians, who have also suffered from prison and tortures for protesting against government. Though, Ebadi is convinced that "there is fire under the ashes", the violence of the regime will not stop the protests and the people will continue claiming their rights. She pinpointed though regarding the well-known Arab Spring, that "it is not enough with one dictator leaving", cause afterwards, "a democracy needs to be built".
Moreover, Shirin Ebadi dennounced how the corrupt dictators put their money into European banks, buy stock from European companies, visit Europe - even live here for long periods of time in big palaces - and are wellcomed by our goverments. "Do not allow the dirty money of the thieves end up in Europe. Make everything possible to limit the world of dictators and their families", pleaded the activist to the audience in the hall.
Ebadi also highlighted how the Iranian government has approved totally discriminatory laws towards women, which establish, for instance, that the life of a woman is worth half of the man's. But, even this, Ebadi firmly believes on the fighting potential of the Iranian women and in fact, assures that "the women in Iran will be the ones to open the path to true democracy".
Is Shirin Ebadi a woman who bothers the Iranian government and because of this she has had death threats. After the population protests of 2009, violently repressed by the Iranian regime, Ebadi denounced this situation at the UN. As a measure of pressure to shut her up, her husband was imprisioned and tortured. "I love my husband a lot but a love justice more". After, they arrested her sister. "I love my sister but I love human rights more". Soon after that, they confiscated and sold all her properties. "I value my properties by I value democracy more". No need to say more. Shirin Ebadi's fight continues and her thirst for peace, justice and democracy is so strong that nothing can stop her. She is afraid of nothing, not even death.
Celia Naharro Salas - Trad: Mª Paz Marcos Silvestre
