Shirin Ebadi: Time to Discuss the Substance of Human Rights

Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said that the sustainability of a future Iran depends on honest dialogue about differences and agreement on the concrete applications of human rights, rather than merely repeating its general concepts.

According to Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), the two-day meeting titled “Human Rights in Post–Islamic Republic Iran” was held in Oslo, on 18–19 October 2025. The event brought together a number of figures, political parties and groups opposed to the Islamic Republic.

In her speech, Ebadi said that “to build Iran after the Islamic Republic, long-standing differences must be set aside, but setting aside disagreements requires a method.” 

She added: “All of us agree on lofty concepts such as freedom of expression and human rights, but what separates us is the interpretation and practical application of these concepts.”

Referring to personal experiences and examples of restrictions on gatherings and protests in the Islamic Republic, the lawyer said: “We are all victims of the violation of the freedom to protest; many young people are in prison for this very reason. But even in a future society, we must determine to what extent and under what conditions freedom has meaning.”

Ebadi further raised examples of differing viewpoints—such as the possibility of establishing a party called the “Republic of Hamadan Independence Party” or how to deal with harsh political speech—to stress the need to define clear boundaries between freedom of expression and hate speech. She said: “If someone in our home or office chants a slogan we do not like, should we remove them? This is the very question every society on the path to democracy must answer.”

Translated from Farsi via machine translation and lightly edited for clarity.