Iran's Ebadi in Vienna on a Mission against "Oppressive" Islamic Republic

Iranian Nobel Peace prize laureate Shirin Ebadi says she is participating in an international digital festival in Vienna to "amplify the Iranian people's voice," address the "challenges" faced by women in Iran and expose the Islamic Republic's "destabilizing" role in the Middle East.

Ebadi made the comments on May 17 as she met with Iranian human rights activists who have been protesting outside the UN headquarters in Vienna for months in support of Iran's women-led protest movement sparked by the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody.

In response to a question by IranWire, she urged the Iranian opposition to unite against the "incompetent and oppressive" Islamic Republic.

"As long as I am alive and this government continues to cast its dark shadow over my country and its people, I'll follow only one path, one road, and one direction, one-way road that leads to the fight against the Islamic Republic," she also said.

Ebadi, who now lives in London, is a lawyer, university teacher, writer, former judge and co-founder of the Defenders of Human Rights Center and the Association for Support of Children's Rights in Iran.

She is in Vienna to attend the three-day 4GAMECHANGERS festival, which ends on May 17.

In her address before the protesting activists, Ebadi highlighted the importance of providing information to the UN fact-finding mission set up last year to investigate human rights abuses in Iran.

"We must all remember one thing: no one can achieve anything alone. We need to work together for these people. Send any relevant documents you have to the UN fact-finding committee. They have already begun their work, and we should inform them about [human rights abuses] by submitting evidence," she said. 

"This committee won't take immediate action. Don't expect them to issue a statement against the Islamic Republic right away. We are gathering these documents for the day when the government of the Islamic Republic is overthrown and these criminals are brought to justice," the human rights activist added.

Ebadi also said that the victims of the Islamic Republic's brutality should be provided with financial support.

"Our next step should be to find a solution to assist in their treatment. Some of these individuals require financial support to continue their medical care. Those who are documenting these cases should inform the public about the specific needs of these people."

Pointing out to the destabilizing role of the Islamic republic in Syria and Iraq, she said that establishing a democratic government in Iran could bring peace to the Iranian people but also to the entire Middle East and the rest of the world.