Iranian Nobel laureate discusses her nation's path

An accomplished judge in 1979, Shirin Ebadi was demoted to a court clerk in 1980 after the Islamic revolution in Iran. She saw the legal system replaced by an interpretation of seventh-century Islamic law that values the life of a woman at half that of a man.

Stubborn and outspoken, she chose to stay, and when the government allowed women to practice law again, Ebadi started taking cases involving women's rights and child abuse. Despite being jailed at one point and finding her name on a "hit list" of political opponents, she kept working and in 2003 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for advancing human rights.

She will speak at 7 p.m. today at Meredith College's McIver Amphitheater about her work and memoir, "Iran Awakening." The talk is free. Through an interpreter, Ebadi gave this interview Tuesday to The N&O.

Q: Do you think people from the United States have an adequate understanding of Iran?

A: No, generally not. For example, few Americans know that more than 65 percent our students are female, and few know that even before women in Switzerland were able to enter parliament that women in Iran were able to enter parliament.

Q: Why not leave Iran in the 1980s as many of your colleagues did after the revolution?

A: I am an Iranian, and I must live in Iran. You can't leave your country over differences you might have.

Q: You mention that Iranians are prone to looking for heroes to help them. Are you concerned about being seen as a hero?

A: Yes, I am concerned about it. I am not a hero. Finding heroes is a way to relieve yourself of your own social responsibilities. Those who want heroes think they can select someone to think for everybody else and decide for everybody else. This is forgetting one's own responsibility. I am completely against this idea.

Q:Would you define courage?

A: Courage means persistence in your belief, that difficulty along the way does not cause you to deviate from your path. It means you will make your best effort for what you believe in.

Q: The current administrations of Iran and the United States see the world very differently. Are they on a collision course?

A: Given President Bush's statement that he won't rule out anything, including force, it is natural that one has concerns about a collision.

Q: What message do you want to make sure your audience understands Thursday?

A: I want them to hear a message for peace and reconciliation. The Iranian and American people like each other. Neither wants war.

There are more than 2 million Iranians in the U.S. They are highly educated. They are very successful in their businesses. Americans have treated them very well. There is no misunderstanding between the people. It is the governments that have differences.