Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi

Tue, May 9
8 pm
$18.50

Shirin Ebadi
In conversation with Kavita Ramdas
Tuesday, May 9, 2006

As a lawyer and Iran's first female judge, Shirin Ebadi has been a
driving force behind her country's legal reform by seeking changes in
divorce and inheritance legislation and championing the rights of
women, families, and children. With the advent of the Islamic
Republic in 1979, Ebadi was forced to resign as president of the
Tehran city court when it was deemed unsuitable for women to fulfill
public office postings. Establishing an independent law practice,
Ebadi went on to represent politically sensitive cases, often at the
risk of her personal safety. Her refusal to be silenced by the
conservative forces controlling the judiciary won the admiration of
worldwide human rights groups and brought her in direct conflict with
the law, leading to a jail sentence and professional ban. "Any
person who pursues human rights in Iran must live with fear from
birth to death," Ebadi has said, "but I have learned to overcome my
fear." A popular figure in Iran and a key figure in the reformist
movement in the Middle East, Shirin Ebadi was the first Iranian
citizen to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her brave and
inspiring efforts to fight for democracy and human rights. She
chronicles the Iranian reformist movement and her exceptional life in
"Iran Awakening: A Memoir of Revolution and Hope."

Venue:

Herbst Theatre
401 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco

Additional Info:

(415) 392-4400
www.cityarts.net