Abstract: The moving, inspiring
memoir of one of the great women of our times, Shirin Ebadi, winner of the
2003 Nobel Peace Prize and advocate for the oppressed, whose spirit has
remained strong in the face of political persecution and despite the
challenges she has faced raising a family while pursuing her work.
Best known in this country as the lawyer working tirelessly on behalf of
Canadian photojournalist, Zara Kazemi – raped, tortured and murdered in Iran
– Dr. Ebadi offers us a vivid picture of the struggles of one woman against
the system. The book movingly chronicles her childhood in a loving,
untraditional family, her upbringing before the Revolution in 1979 that
toppled the Shah, her marriage and her religious faith, as well as her life
as a mother and lawyer battling an oppressive regime in the courts while
bringing up her girls at home.
Outspoken, controversial, Shirin Ebadi is one of the most fascinating women
today. She rose quickly to become the first female judge in the country; but
when the religious authorities declared women unfit to serve as judges she
was demoted to clerk in the courtroom she had once presided over. She
eventually fought her way back as a human rights lawyer, defending women and
children in politically charged cases that most lawyers were afraid to
represent. She has been arrested and been the target of assassination, but
through it all has spoken out with quiet bravery on behalf of the victims of
injustice and discrimination and become a powerful voice for change, almost
universally embraced as a hero.
Her memoir is a gripping story – a must-read for anyone interested in Zara
Kazemi’s case, in the life of a remarkable woman, or in understanding the
political and religious upheaval in our world.