Until We are Free

Author: Shirin Ebadi Publisher: Random House New York ISBN: 9780812989854

WINNER of a Nobel Peace Prize (and the first Muslim woman to receive it) for her efforts in fighting for democracy and human rights, Shirin relates her courageous mission to bring justice to the people and the country she loves.

When her career as a judge was suspended by the Islamic authorities in Iran, Shirin turned to undertaking legal work defending children’s and women’s rights. And for this, she was often intimidated by the government.

The persecution intensified after Mahmud Ahmadinejad rose to power in 2005, with attempts to shut down her work, including harrassment by intelligence officers, detention of her family on trumped-up charges, mob attacks, and even death threats.

But nothing could stop her from speaking out and standing up for human dignity – not even exile and the break-up of her marriage of 34 years.

Reading this book, you can feel Shirin’s love for her country and the people she tries to help. It’s horrifying to learn of the atrocities that people could do to fellow human beings. Yet despite the chilling accounts from her book, you can’t help but be inspired by Shirin, and perhaps it will help you look at certain situations in a different light afterwards. – K.K. Wong