Iran’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi candidly spoke with Rooz about the ‎government’s prevention of social activists from leaving the country. She stresses that ‎this is an unlawful act and asks: When state authorities do not observe the law, what can ‎one expect the public to do? Here is the exchange.‎

Rooz (R): In the latest ban on foreign travel, Nasrin Sotudeh was stopped from leaving ‎Iran as she was preparing to travel to Italia to receive her international human rights ‎award. What do you think about this?‎

Shirin Ebadi (SE): Those who have barred her from leaving Iran on the pretext of ‎national security should know that not only is this act unlawful but that it is completely ‎against Iran’s national interest as well. Simply put, if Nasrin Sotudeh could have gone to ‎Italy to personally receive her award, and would have spoken at the ceremony, it would ‎have been good for the image of the regime. In her absence however, her speech was read ‎by someone else and it was announced right at the opening ceremony that she was not ‎present at the gathering because of a ban by the Iranian government.‎

R: What is the consequence of banning a human rights activist from leaving the country?‎

SE: People will view the Iranian government to be suppressing freedom of speech. This ‎is certainly not good for the regime at the international level. I hope that future treatment ‎of human rights defenders and lawyers will consider the national interests of the country.‎

R: What do you think are the reasons for this measure?‎

SE: The purpose of such an unlawful act must be asked of those who engage in them. But ‎whatever their reasons, the result is negative for the Islamic Republic. This is because as I ‎have said before such acts will not prevent activities by people while at the same time it ‎will be said at international events that the government is creating obstacles for the work ‎of human rights activists.‎

R: What is the impact of this on individual?‎

SE: Such acts cause distrust of some government officials by the public who disregard ‎the law so blatantly. In other words as a famous Persian saying goes, owners of a place ‎must uphold their respect. If security and government officials do not implement the law, ‎how can they expect the public to respect it?‎