Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi delivered a speech at the Nobel Peace Conference on Friday, drawing attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran.
She also discussed the determination of the Iranian people to peacefully bring about change in the Islamic Republic reigme.
In her address, Ebadi highlighted the bravery of young Iranians, including teenage girls who risked their lives to protest on the streets. She emphasized that these actions signify a society awakened to the need for peaceful change and a desire to overthrow the current regime.
Ebadi also commemorated the tragic death of Mahsa Amini in detention, noting that citizens from hundreds of cities across Iran took to the streets to declare their rejection of the regime. She lamented that despite peaceful protests, the government responded with violence.
Addressing the international community, Ebadi urged hope and persistence in the face of dire circumstances, reminding everyone that many countries grapple with similar challenges. She expressed confidence that human rights defenders will contribute to improving these situations and called for continued efforts.
Ebadi brought attention to grim statistics, revealing that at least 80 of the victims in last year's nationwide protests were under 18 years old, emphasizing that this is only an estimate.
In closing, Shirin Ebadi promised the audience that this would be the last time she addresses the dire conditions in Iran, and her next discourse will focus on victories.
Shirin Ebadi, a vocal supporter of the Women, Life, Freedom protest movement, has been actively shedding light on the various facets of these protests and the violent response of the Iranian security forces.