Nobel Peace Laureate, Dr Shirin Ebadi spoke to The Sunday Guardian on the ongoing unrest in Iran. Leaders of the western world have closed their eyes to this horrific disaster that is taking place in Iran, she said.
Over 12,000 Killed in Iran, West Turning Blind Eye: Shirin Ebadi (Image: File)
New Delhi: Over 12,000 people have lost their lives in the violent crackdown by Iranian authorities over the last two weeks. Internet services have been blocked and voices of dissent have been muzzled ruthlessly. While the world watches in horror and reacts with disgust at the bloodbath in Tehran and other parts of Iran, Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blames actors linked to the United States and Israel behind the death of “several thousands” during weeks of anti-government protests.
Veteran journalist Sourav Sanyal, who is a close acquaintance of Iranian activist and Nobel Peace Laureate, Dr Shirin Ebadi, caught up with her for her views on the Iran unrest.
Dr Shirin Ebadi, the first Muslim and first Iranian to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her pioneering efforts for democracy and women, children and refugee rights in 2003, is presently living in exile in London. She became the youngest and first female Chief Magistrate of 26th Divisional Court in Tehran in 1975, when she was not even 30.
A: The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has violently killed over 12,000 innocent people, who had peacefully participated in protests in Tehran and 12 other cities in Iran during the first two weeks of January 2026. Iraqi and Afghan agents were recruited to take part in the killing of Iranian people. Pursuant to the statistics published by the government of Iran, during the 12-day war with Israel and the US, 1,500 people were killed. If we compare the number of people killed during the war to the number of people killed during the peaceful protests, we can conclude how violent the killing has been.
A: By black-outing the worldwide internet and landline telephones, the government has been able to carry out its violence in dark. However, using Starlink, clips of government at-tacks and people’s investigations have been distributed. The people of Iran have tried to topple this violent regime numerous times, but, unfortunately, many have been killed and they have not been successful.
A: I believe that Nobel Laureates should be informed of what the people of Iran are undergoing, and foreign leaders should help the people of Iran topple the regime. During the last two years, people like Ismail Haniyeh were killed in Iran while sleeping, in their bed, without others being harmed. I am sure that the same method can be used to get rid of the 88-yearold leader and other heads of departments that issue orders of killing people. Should the leaders of the regime be exterminated, people will become victorious. The Supreme Leader has stated numerous times that anything is justified for the existence of the regime. He has even stated that the existence of the regime is more important than the life of the twelfth saint (Imam) of Shia Islam, Imam Mahdi. To preserve the regime, they have resorted to killing people which has resulted in a bloodbath and a horrific disaster. Pursuant to the report of doctors, over 500 people have lost their eyesight because of having been shot in the eye by pellet guns. Many have been killed and numerous people have been arrested. However, as the result of a shutdown of the internet, we do not have reports that reflect the exact numbers.
A: I am very sorry that the leaders of the western world who consider themselves as champions of human rights have closed their eyes to this horrific disaster that is taking place in Iran. Many a times it has been requested that the Islamic Republic Guard Corps be recognized as a terrorist group—to no avail. At this time, regarding the situation in Iran, European countries should reduce the level of their relationship with Iran from the ambassadorial level to the level of charge’ d’ affaires.
