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GUEST: Shirin Ebadi is a pioneering lawyer and human rights activist. In 2003 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, becoming the first Iranian woman, and the first Muslim woman to win the prize. She is also a co-founder of the Nobel Women’s Initiative. She has received numerous other awards and many honorary doctorate degrees.

Iranian leaders are eagerly awaiting the official dismantling of sanctions that have been in place for years. An historic nuclear deal signed with the United States and six other nations has enabled Iran to re-enter the global financial market in exchange for curtailing its nuclear development program. Conservatives in the US are extremely unhappy about the deal, as is Israel. They expect that Iran will renege the first chance it gets.

Meanwhile, even with the more moderate Hassan Rouhani as President, Iran seems to be stepping up its presence in the Middle East. It is reportedly sending aid to Yemen which is in the midst of a brutal US-backed Saudi bombing campaign. And, there are now reports that Iran may send up to 2,000 soldiers to Syria to fight rebel groups alongside Hezbollah, in defense of the Bashar Al Assad regime.

Shirin Ebadi spoke Thursday October 22nd to hundreds at CSUSB’s Coussoulis Arena on “Ways to Fight Islamic Fundamentalism” as part of the university’s 50th anniversary, through the school’s Center for Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies.

Special thanks to Ece Algan, Shakeel Syed, and Shirin Ershadi for help with this interview.