Until We Are Free

My Fight for Human Rights in Iran

By: Shirin Ebadi

Narrated by: Shohreh Aghdashloo

In this searing memoir, the first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize tells her story of courage and defiance in the face of an Iranian government out to destroy her, her family, and her mission: to bring justice to the people and the country she loves.

“Shirin Ebadi is quite simply the most vital voice for freedom and human rights in Iran.”—Reza Aslan, #1 New York Times bestselling author of No god but God and Zealot

For years the Islamic Republic tried to intimidate Shirin Ebadi, but after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rose to power in 2005, the persecution intensified. The government wiretapped Ebadi’s phones, bugged her law firm, sent spies to follow her, harassed her colleagues, detained her daughter, and arrested her sister on trumped-up charges. It shut down her lectures, fired up mobs to attack her home, and nailed a death threat to her front door. But nothing could keep Ebadi from speaking out and standing up for human dignity.

This is the amazing, at times harrowing, simply astonishing story of a woman who would never give up. Just as her words and deeds have inspired a nation, Until We Are Free will inspire you to find the courage to stand up for your beliefs.

Critic reviews

“[Shirin] Ebadi recounts the cycle of sinister assaults she faced after she won the Nobel Prize in 2003. Her new memoir, written as a novel-like narrative, captures the precariousness of her situation and her determination to ‘stand firm.’”—The Washington Post

“Powerful . . . Although [Ebadi’s] memoir underscores that a slow change will have to come from within Iran, it is also proof of the stunning effects of her nonviolent struggle on behalf of those who bravely, and at a very high cost, keep pushing for the most basic rights.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Shirin Ebadi is quite simply the most vital voice for freedom and human rights in Iran.”—Reza Aslan, author of No god but God and Zealot

“Shirin Ebadi writes of exile hauntingly and speaks of Iran, her homeland, as the poets do. Ebadi is unafraid of addressing the personal as well as the political and does both fiercely, with introspection and fire.”—Fatima Bhutto, author of The Shadow of the Crescent Moon

“I would encourage all to read Dr. Shirin Ebadi’s memoir and to understand how her struggle for human rights continued after winning the Nobel Peace Prize. It is also fascinating to see how she has been affected positively and negatively by her Nobel Prize. This is a must read for all.”—Desmond Tutu

“A revealing portrait of the state of political oppression in Iran . . . [Ebadi] is an inspiring figure, and her suspenseful, evocative story is unforgettable.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Ebadi’s courage and strength of character are evident throughout this engrossing text, which illuminates the power the few have had over the many, particularly the women and children of Iran. The captivating and candid story of a woman who took on the Iranian government and survived, despite every attempt to make her fail.”—Kirkus Reviews

Book of Trurth

Incredible story of courage, commitment to a cause and doing "right" for the less fortunate. Shirin is one of a kind. Thank you for sharing your story with all of us.

Gripping account of Iran

narrated by a throaty voiced woman, this book was informative and well paced.

eye opening for those unfamiliar with Iran