Noble Peace Prize to a women’s right activist or a religious figure?
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An
Open Letter to the Noble Peace Prize Committee regarding Awarding the
Noble Peace Prize to Shirin Ebadi
14
October 2003
Dear
Committee members
It
is said that she has been awarded the prize “for her efforts for
democracy and human rights’ especially for “the struggle for the
rights of women and children.” But further down in the statement the
more specific reason for which she has been awarded the peace prize is
given: “Ebadi is a conscious Moslem. She sees no conflict
between Islam and fundamental human rights.” It is further emphasized
that the committee is awarding her the prize as “a woman who is part of
the Moslem world.”
The
assumptions by the Noble prize committee are objectionable by anyone who
has lived through the horrors of the Islamic Republic of Iran, or has felt
or seen the terror of political Islam in the past decades. This statement
is a blow to a people whose aspirations are to bring about a secular
state, and to free themselves from religion rule. One need not to be a
seasoned politician to understand the implications and implied meanings of
this sentence. For ordinary people in Iran who have witnessed the support
given by the West to the Islamic Republic in one form or the other over
the years, and have also witnessed their support for Islamic states and
movements, the clear message of this statement reads that the Noble peace
prize is being awarded to a Moslem movement in the hopes of reforming the
Islamic Republic.
For
a committee whose main task is to follow, understand and discern the
movements for improving people’s lives, for improving human rights,
women’s rights, the rights of children, and any disadvantaged section of
society, I am amazed that you have not followed the events in Iran, have
not heard the message and slogans of the protest movements of the people,
workers and women in Iran. The most recent one took place in June and
continued for over three weeks. Every night, thousands took to the streets
and shouted: “long live freedom and equality” and “down with Islamic
Republic.” As it regards women, they threw off their compulsory veils -
some even burnt their Islamic veils - as signs of protest to Islamic laws,
and broke the walls and laws of gender apartheid by holding hands with
their male comrades and dancing in public. As a matter of fact as I am
writing these lines, I received the news of wave of demonstrations in the
streets of Tehran, in which thousands of people, especially women are
shouting ”down with the Islamic Republic” and demanding freedom.
Perhaps you could understand my indignation at your statement when you
explain that you are awarding the prize to a “conscious Moslem” who
“sees no conflict between Islam and fundamental human rights.” In
explaining the reasons for awarding a prize to a woman for her activities
in the arena of women’s rights in a country where women are considered
by law, that is religious law, as second-class citizens, where the secular
and women’s equal rights movement are tremendously strong, why do you
find the need or choose to describe her as a Moslem?
There
is a clear political justification for portraying a women’s rights
activist from Iran, and under the tyranny of a religious state, first and
foremost, by religion, and by describing the geography of her activities,
again, by religion. This statement does not award the women’s and
protest movements in Iran fighting for a free and better world, a secular
state, and the complete equality of women and men, but instead awards a
section of a movement which is trying to maintain the rule of Islam. This
statement, contrary to the demands and judgements of the people in Iran is
awarding that movement which is more eager to stop the people than to stop
the Islamic state, and religious tyranny in Iran. I believe one is
justified to draw the conclusion that the noble prize committee is biased
and has made a political decision to support not the secular movement in
Iran, and the so-called “Moslem world” but the Islamic movement. Let
me assure you that such a decision is contrary to the will and wishes of
the majority of people and women of Iran who will free themselves and Iran
of a religious state all together, and will bring about a secular, free
and equal political system.
Sincerely
yours,
Azar
Majedi
Founder
and Chairperson, Organisation of Women’s Liberation in Iran
Chairperson,
Middle East Centre for Women’s Rights
Editor,
Medusa, the Journal of the Centre for Women and Socialism
Fax
No.: +44-870 135 8385
www.azadizan.com