Shirin
Ebadi is an Iranian lawyer, human rights activist and founder of Children's Rights
Support Association in Iran. She is the winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize --
the first Muslim woman to receive this award. Shirin Ebadi was one of the first
female judges in Iran, but was forced to leave this position after the revolution
in 1979. Since that time she has worked, at great risk to her own safety, as a
lawyer, writer and university professor to advocate for human rights, especially
for Iranian women and children. A practicing Muslim, Shirin Ebadi advocates that
Islam can and must be interpreted with respect for democratic ideals, equality
and human rights. In 2001 she was awarded the Rafto Prize for human rights and
the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003. She has also received numerous other international
awards including the International Democracy Award and the ‘Lawyer of the Year’
award in 2004 and the Legion of Honor award in 2006.
