She, who was the keynote speaker at the Kantipur Conclave, said, ”From a young age, they discuss politics, question the government, and monitor state activities.”
What you should know
Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Shirin Ebadi has said that she will one day bring good news of the victory of the protesting people in Iran.
She said that the Iranian people and their youth are stronger than the oppression being carried out by the Shah's state. The 1979 revolution established an authoritarian religious regime in our country. Since then, we have been living under strict religious laws, where punishments are centuries old.’
She said that there are discriminatory laws based on gender, religion, sexual orientation and minority identity, and that corruption and embezzlement are widespread in Iran. Despite being a country rich in the world’s largest oil and gas reserves and mineral resources, two-thirds of the Iranian population lives below the poverty line.
Shirin recalled that the protests erupted after a young woman arrested in September 2022 for having too little hair died in police custody. She said that security forces in Iran have fired shots to suppress the protests and have even raided hospitals to arrest the injured, and that health workers who were helping the injured have also been arrested.
She expressed respect for the movement, saying that she had carefully studied the news about the Genji movement that took place in Nepal on Bhadra 23 and 24. “They should enter the system, propose solutions and be part of the change instead of just standing on the sidelines and shouting,” she advised Nepali youth leaders. “My advice to the youth aged 18 and above is simple – go vote. Join a political party you believe in. Be active. If you don’t like any of the parties, form a new party together. Stand at the forefront.” She urged them to contribute to building the future by participating and leading, not just by chanting slogans.
