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04 / 07 / 2004
Shirin Ebadi (Nobel Peace Prize Winner): “Fighting against terrorism should not silence other opinions”
The Dialogue “East-West” highlighting the objective that the two cultures see eye to eye and learn from one another. Speakers included Shirin Ebadi, Fidel Ramos, Fernando Morán and Robert Cooper.
More information about the
East-West Dialogue
Shirin Ebadi, lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2003, explained that “there is a group of people who mistakenly believe that the conflict between cultures is inevitable and that that justifies the use of force.” Ebadi proposed the question of whether Islam respects and accepts people’s rights. According to Ebadi “the problem isn’t Islam, but rather some Islamic governments who don’t want to show an interpretation of Islam that makes coexistence with human rights possible.” The Nobel Peace Prize winner added that, “in order to make a cultural change we have to teach a correct Islamic base, an revitalized Islam.” Ebadi believes that it is possible “to teach what Islam can be and respect human rights and democracy.”
In relation to fundamentalism, Ebadi said that, “fighting against it shouldn’t be excuse for silencing those with differing opinions; violence is contagious.” If we really want peace we should respect people’s rights and the accords of the United Nations.” Ebadi called for people to see Islam in a different light since, “when people commit acts of terrorism in the name of Islam, they are using Islam incorrectly, since the religion doesn’t tolerate violence.”
Former minister of foreign affairs, Fernando Morán, also intervened in the session and said that “dialogue between the East and West is necessary, convenient and urgent, especially because we have the tendency to simply things we aren’t familiar with.” According to Morán, “it’s important to tolerate public manifestations of other religions; we can’t try to keep in the private domain.” “Privatizing religion is an amputation of reality,” concluded Morán.
Fidel Ramos, former president of the Philippines, argued that “now, we need action” and encouraged the public to start acting. According to Ramos, “the important is to instill happiness in others independent of our origins or cultures.” “What we must do is care for one other, share and dare to take action,” added Ramos. The general director of foreign policy and common security for the UE Council, Robert Cooper, said that “it’s essential that Europe start looking back at Asia.” Cooper praised the effort everyone had made to come to eth Forum: “The effort these representatives made to leave their countries and come to the Forum is just what Europe should do.”
The ambassador on special mission, Manuel Montobbio, reviewed all the concepts that they have discussed at “East-West.” Montobbio said “the East values the internal while the West values the external.” He explained that Islam is the great breech between East and West and discussed reciprocal exile. Montobbio recalled that September 11 provoked a new era, in which state agents were absent. Montobbio added that, “now that the Dialogue has finished, it’s time for real dialogue to start among us.”
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