Iran Awakening

There are calls for freedom among the Uighurs in China and by the people in Iran. Regarding the latter I was reminded about a book I read a few years ago by Shirin Ebadi. She is a gifted Iranian lawyer and judge, who has lived through the Islamic revolution and seen and experienced the revolution turn into daily hell – even for her. She is also a courageous and outspoken defender of others whose human dignity and rights have been trampled on. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2003 "for her efforts for democracy and human rights. She has focused especially on the struggle for the rights of women and children".She tells her life story in the book "Iran Awakening", a "riveting story of an amazing and very brave woman", as Desmond Tutu writes. The excerpts below takes place 1989, ten years after the Islamic revolution. It reminds us why the people of Iran are taking to the streets demanding freedom."It was only later, when details emerged through rumor and word of mouth, that we heard of the "trials" conducted before the executions. The proceedings lasted only a few minutes, long enough for the prisoners to be asked questions like Are you a Muslim? What is your organizational affiliation? Do you pray? Is the Holy Koran the word of God? Will you publicly recant historical materialism? If the prisoner – confused, blindfolded, and unaccustomed to religious inquisition – answered incorrectly, there were no more questions, and the execution order was immediately handed down.If the prisoner claimed belief in Islam, he would be asked if he was willing to collaborate with the regime, and whether he recanted his formal beliefs. If the answer was no, again the death sentence; if the answer was yes, the prisoner would be forced to participate in the execution of other prisoners as proof of his conversion. Female prisoners, of which there were many, were reportedly raped before execution to ensure their damnation, for virgins were said to ascend directly to heaven."Excerpts from:
Iran Awakening. From Prison to Peace Prize: One Woman"s Struggle at the Crossroads of History, by Shirin Ebadi. Random House, 2006.