Shirin Ebadi

Hosting Nobel Peace Laureate

Shirin Ebadi is an Iranian lawyer, human rights activist and founder of Centre for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran. On October 10, 2003, Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She was the first ever Iranian, and the first Muslim woman to have received the prize.

Ebadi was born in Hamadan, Iran. Her father, Mohammad Ali Ebadi, was the city's chief notary public and professor of commercial law. The family moved to Tehran in 1948.She was admitted to the law department of the University of Tehran in 1965 and upon graduation in 1969 passed the qualification exams to become a judge. After a six-month internship period, she officially started her judging career in March 1969. She continued her studies in University of Tehran in the meanwhile and received a master's degree in law in 1971. In 1975, she became the first woman to preside over a legislative court.

Following the Iranian revolution in 1979, conservative clerics insisted that Islam prohibits women from becoming judges and Ebadi was demoted to a secretarial position at the branch where she had previously presided. She and other female judges protested and were assigned to the slightly higher position of "law expert." She eventually requested early retirement as the situation remained unchanged. On October 10, 2003, Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her courageous efforts for democracy and human rights, especially for the rights of women and children. The selection committee praised her as a "courageous person" who "has never heeded the threat to her own safety". Now she travels abroad lecturing in the West.

Since receiving the Nobel Peace Prize Ebadi has lectured, taught and received awards in different countries, issued statements and defended people accused of political crimes in Iran. She has traveled to and spoken to audiences in India, the United States, and other countries; released her autobiography in an English translation and participated in the Nobel Women's Initiative along with five other Nobel Laureates.

Want to hear more? Register Here to see Shirin Ebadi at the 2010 Midsouth PeaceJam Conference!  

Shirin in the News

Shirin Ebadi and her family are currently facing difficult times! We recommend the following articles to help you stay up-to-date on her work and struggles. We will update these news links frequently.

Shirin Ebadi on Iranian Government Crackdown on Protesters on CNN, January 5, 2010 http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/01/04/iran.ebadi/  

Associated Free Press Article on Iran and the Arrest of Shirin Ebadi’s Sister http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gzaQsCBZVkviDlZFZJ-6w88tMk5g