On Friday, April 25, Hamline University had a wonderful event featuring Iranian lawyer, human rights activist and 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Shirin Ebadi. Her lecture centered on the “Roots of Chaos in the Middle East,” and she gave an honest, frank assessment of the region’s problems as well as of potential solutions.

Dr. Ebadi also spoke passionately about women and youth, and their struggles to achieve equality and peace. She exuded confidence, courage and compassion as she touched upon the pain and difficulties of the Iranian people—but it was when she spoke of their amazing strengths and accomplishments that her spirit and pride radiated. By the end of the hour, it was clear why this amazing woman had won the Nobel Peace Prize. She truly is a powerful force for peace and a tribute to the women of the Middle East.

Ebadi’s Three Reasons for Political Instability

During her talk, Dr. Ebadi (pictured at right) offered three main reasons for the region’s current political instability. First, she pointed out that although the U.S. is a democratic government and preaches democracy, in actuality it is supporting many non-democratic countries in the Middle East (for example: Saudi Arabia). This hypocrisy frustrates many in the region. In Iran, it has led to the youth’s support of the Iranian government, not so much because the government is good, but because they see the ruling party as having the courage to stand up to the hypocrisy.

The second reason she gave was the Israeli-Palestinian issue, which she called a complex and difficult situation. However, she said, mothers on both sides are working together to help their children. Many Israeli mothers understand the harsh, oppressive and painful difficulties facing the Palestinians. And many Palestinian mothers tell their children that violence only begets violence. On both sides, Ebadi said, it is the women who are making great strides to find peace.

For centuries, Ebadi noted, Jews and Muslims had lived together peacefully. In many places in the Middle East, they still do. It was only after World War II that the current conflict began. In truth, it is a political conflict, she said, not a religious one. She added that there is no need for anyone in the Middle East region—such as Pakistan, India, or Israel—to have nuclear weapons.

The third reason Ebadi gave for the current chaos is the American-led invasion of Iraq. Every day, tens to hundreds of Iraqi civilians are killed, many of them innocent women and children. Before this terrible war, the Iraqi people had to deal only with Saddam Hussein, who the world agrees was a ruthless dictator. But at least then, the people had only one fight to focus on. Now, Ebadi contended, the Iraqi people not only must still fight dictatorship, but they also must also fight against hunger and starvation, fundamentalism, terrorism, violence and death on a daily basis.

People in the Middle East, Ebadi said, often ask: “Why Iraq?” Yes, Saddam Hussein was a dictator—but was he the only dictator in the world? It seems that the answer to this question is that in Iraq, there is a lot of oil, and, in the other countries, there is none.

In Iran, Democracy Must Come from the People

In Iran, Ebadi said, there is much that is good, but there are also many problems. The people are very educated and more than sixty-five percent of the students in its universities are women. Many jobs are held by women: occupations such as lawyers, professors, doctors, teachers and engineers. However, there are also many problems within the current government and Iran has its share of human rights violations and oppression of its women.

There is also the issue of poverty. One in seven Iranians is living below the poverty line, which translates to living on less on less than a dollar a day. This is shameful, Ebadi said, because Iran is a country with many natural resources (oil, copper, and mines are just a few) and yet nearly 15 percent of its people live in poverty. There are many challenges and problems in Iran, but the people love their country. They are strong and are working to improve the conditions, and, Ebadi said, it is the women who are leading the way and making great strides.

According to Dr. Ebadi, the Iranian people oppose any foreign interference, and she added that “democracy is not a good to be sold into a country.” Democratic reform is a process and must be done in incremental steps. If it is a sudden event, then it is not a reform, but a revolution. Democracy is something that must come from the people themselves and, in fact, Iran has a history of democracy. In 1905, when the Russians had the Czars and the Turks had the Ottomans, it was in Iran that the first democratic revolution in the world took place.

Dr. Ebadi also noted that most of the Iranian people are not happy with their current government and that they want democracy–but at the same time, they oppose foreign interference. She stated that not only do the Iranian people oppose military attacks, they also oppose the threat of a military attack. Violence only begets violence, she asserted, and no one will benefit.

Ebadi then addressed Iran’s nuclear capacity, saying that, to date, there has not been a single violation. The Iranian people often wonder why the United States doesn’t seem to worry about the countries with actual nuclear weapons or of those in violation of nuclear-development rules, and yet instead focuses on speculation that at some time in the future, there may be a possible violation in Iran. These types of hypocrisies and double standards upset the Iranian people as well as others in the Middle East.

In Iran, Dr. Ebadi said, there are many problems. But these, she said, are our [Iranians'] problems and we [Iranians] will solve them.

Dr. Ebadi proved to be an amazing woman, and her lecture drew cheers, applause and a standing ovation. Her words were inspiring, and even more impressive considering the fact that her talk was completely given through a translator.

Thank you, Hamline, for this wonderful treat. And thank you, Dr. Shirin Ebadi, for living a life of service with courage and honesty. May God bless you.

Thasneem Ahmed is a mother, business owner, and pre-law student who lives in Woodbury, Minn.

Many, perhaps most, of us want to make our voices heard. We want to affect the political process, but may not know how or where to begin. Is it enough to phone in our opinions? To send an email? What is the best way to communicate with our legislators? Many Minnesotans, perhaps, could use a “beginner’s guide” to political advocacy.

The fourth annual Muslim Day at the Capitol, scheduled for Tuesday, March 18 at the Capitol Building in St. Paul, provides just such a guide.

Thasneem Ahmed was able to attend last year’s Day at the Capitol (pictured above), and says: “It was wonderful to hear our representatives speak to the Muslim community, and to realize that we are all working on the same side—the side of making Minnesota a better place for all of its citizens.”

Any Minnesotan—Muslim or non-Muslim, beginner or seasoned advocate—is welcome to show up at the Capitol on Tuesday at 9 a.m., to participate and to learn.

Thasneem’s View: Becoming a Bigger Part of Our Democracy

Last year’s Muslim Day at the Capitol was a wonderful experience. The day began at about 9 a.m. and lasted well into the afternoon. I arrived at the Capitol Building close to 9:30 and was greeted by one of the organizers at the entrance. I had lived in Minnesota for more than seventeen years, but this was my first time actually inside the building. We were grouped by our districts and then given a schedule of appointments so we could visit our local representatives. I was assigned to the Woodbury group along with several others, including Br. Hesham Hussein, Br. Sameh, Br. Haythem, and his wife Iqbal. We were quite a diverse group of Muslims: Indian, Palestinian, Egyptian, and Sudanese. It was great!

Without Muslim Day at the Capitol, I probably would never have had the chance to meet so many of our representatives. It was really nice to be able to go together as a group and be able to meet so many of our legislators. Among those we met were Rep. Neva Walker of Minneapolis, Rep. Marsha Swails of Woodbury, Rep. Erin Murphy of St. Paul, and Sen. Charles Wiger of Maplewood. It was a wonderful experience to talk to them one on one, to be able to discuss our issues and concerns, and to form a working partnership with our elected legislators. Most of the issues we discussed were those that concern all Minnesotans: schools, early and special education, property taxes, health care, transportation, and road construction.

The morning flew by, and around noon we broke for lunch. Middle Eastern sandwiches and drinks were served, and everyone had a few moments to relax and eat while catching up on the morning events.

Later, in the main rotunda, an assembly was held and many of our state and local representatives addressed and welcomed us warmly. Some of them were Rep. Karen Clark of Minneapolis, Sen. Tarryl Clark of St. Cloud, and Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. It was wonderful to hear them speak to the Muslim community and to realize that we are all working on the same side—the side of making Minnesota a better place for all of its citizens. After lunch and prayer, we resumed our groups and had a chance to meet more officials.

I left around 2:30, and, as I was driving home, I was truly impressed with the event’s organization and professionalism. Being able to walk around inside of our beautiful Capitol Building, meeting our representatives and legislators, and having the chance to visit with like-minded Muslims was really a wonderful experience. I have an even greater appreciation for our democracy now and it was wonderful to be able to feel like I was a part of it, at least for that short time. Insha Allah, I hope to be able to go again this year.

A Rundown of Tuesday’s Events

The day is set to begin at 9 a.m. with a training session in Room 118 of the Capitol Building. This training session includes a quick lesson on how to advocate with legislators. According to Asad Zaman of the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, the session will cover “the ins and outs of advocating at the Capitol.”

The day officially starts at 10 a.m. with a rally in the Capitol’s rotunda. This rally promises to feature speakers from the Minnesota Senate, the state House of Representatives, and from local Muslim organizations.

After that, individuals are invited to meet with their representatives.

The event—founded by Rep. Keith Ellison, Br. Hesham Hussein, and others—is co-sponsored by the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Minnesota, the Muslim Youth of Minnesota, Al-Madinah Cultural Center, and the Muslim Students Association at the University of Minnesota.

If you’d like more information, or want to set up an appointment with your representative, you can email the staff at the Muslim American Society at info@masmn.org.

We also encourage you to post your thoughts, questions, or recollections about past Muslim Days at the Capitol below. Help others get involved by sharing your voice.

Learn more:

• Where is the State Capitol Building? Get driving directions, parking tips, a map and more.

Thasneem Ahmed is a mother, business owner, and pre-law student who lives in Woodbury, Minn. Marcia Lynx Qualey is a mother, a writer, and is affiliated with the University of Minnesota in various ways.

This past week’s Super Tuesday was truly a historic event. The energy, the excitement, the crowds …for many of us, especially for those who were voting in our caucus for the first time, that night will not be soon forgotten. As Americans around the country placed their votes for who they wanted to represent them in the Presidential election, the words “…. government of the people, by the people, for the people…” seemed to almost come alive. We were the American people and we were going to reel in a government that for the last several years seemed to have lost sight of this fact. Last Tuesday, the American people spoke up loud and clear…and made the leash.

Reports of record-breaking voter turnout made almost as much news as the results of the votes itself. To say the evening was crazy doesn’t do it justice. In Woodbury, the line of cars trying to exit from 94 was bumper to bumper for as long as the eye could see. It almost seemed like Woodbury was having a rock concert. And we had the energy level to match. Inside, people stood in lines to find their room, lines to get inside their room, and then more lines to sign up and vote. Needless to say, paper and pens ran out long before the night was over as voters improvised and used scraps of paper on which to write their nomination.

There is something almost transformational when you encounter this kind of energy. There is hope and determination that this time, things are going to be different. People of every race, age, and religion came together as Americans…to be counted and to take ownership of their government. Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists…even the Scientologists came together and spoke with their vote. For the first time in a long time, Americans were becoming united again. And Americans were proud to be Americans again.

For the first time in a very long time, I am proud to be an American again.

–Thasneem Ahmed is a mother, business owner, and pre-law student who lives in Woodbury, Minn.