"Considering that Shirin Ebadi received her Nobel Peace Prize for the defense of children, we gathered in front of her office to ask whether the children of Gaza are not children," Ali-Reza Keighobadi, the Basiji activist, told ISNA.
In a Dec. 27 interview with the semiofficial Fars News Agency, Ebadi condemned the Israeli operation.
"In my view, the only way to resolve the disputes and end this dire condition is to continue the peace negotiation based on mutually satisfactory terms and conditions and establish an independent Palestinian state," she told the news agency.
Human rights advocates say Iranian authorities are using the tumult over Gaza as an excuse to punish dissidents.
"The events in Gaza have brought about an opportunity to suppress and crack down on any human rights activities," said Khalil Bahramian, another Iranian human rights lawyer. "Gaza has provided them the chance to wash away human rights issues."
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daragahi@latimes.com
Mostaghim is a special correspondent.
