Shirin Ebadi's Call for the International Community to Weaken the Islamic Republic

Shirin Ebadi, the Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate, criticized economic sanctions against Iran while defending international pressure to weaken the Islamic Republic, including banning the broadcast of Iranian television programs via satellite. In an interview with Reuters on the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Revolution, she recalled that human rights violations began the day after the revolution with the quick trials and executions of former regime officials. According to Ebadi, economic sanctions 'make the Iranian people poorer' and provide opportunities for those close to the regime to acquire 'dirty money' from the conditions created by the sanctions. The Nobel laureate has previously warned about the consequences of intensified sanctions or military attacks against Iran while urging Western companies to refrain from cooperating with the Islamic Republic. She has also supported sanctions on the travel of Islamic Republic officials and the confiscation of their assets in Western countries. In her interview with Reuters, she defended global pressure on Iran, stating that 'the world must do something to weaken the Iranian government.' She also advocated for the ban on broadcasting Iranian television programs via satellite. Following the protests in December of last year, Ebadi called for people to refrain from paying their utility bills and taxes. She also urged people to withdraw their money from banks to pressure the government to comply with their demands and avoid resorting to violence.