Switzerland Today
Dear Swiss Abroad,
Why did Iranian lawyer and human rights activist Shirin Ebadi today slam Switzerland’s “incomprehensible sanctions policy” towards the Islamic Republic? We also look at Switzerland’s contribution to keeping the peace between Serbia and Kosovo, and a humanitarian NGO’s efforts to continue working in Afghanistan under challenging conditions.
In the news: Bern was the scene of more demonstrations this year than ever before. On average more than one rally was held a day.
- This year the war in Ukraine caused the largest demonstration in Bern: on February 26 up to 20,000 people protested against the Russian war of aggression. Up to 10,000 people took part in the women’s strike demonstration on June 14.
- Switzerland has repeated its calls for all parties involved in the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo not to aggravate the situation any further. The foreign ministry stressed the importance of peace-keeping missions KFOR and EULEX.
- Swiss aid organisation Afghanistanhilfe is still in Afghanistan, despite the Taliban’s ban on women working in NGOs. But a withdrawal is possible if the ban is applied, says its president.
Iranian lawyer, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi (pictured) has been defying the mullahs for 40 years – at the risk of her life. She explains why the end of the Islamic Republic is near, and why Switzerland disappoints her.
“I am convinced that this regime will not stay in power much longer. The people of Iran long for the end of this dictatorship. They want to live freely, and they will fulfil this wish sooner or later,” Ebadi said in an interviewExternal link with the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper today.
“In 130 cities in Iran, people have been taking to the streets for months. Even 13-year-old schoolgirls are taking part, wearing their hair down and giving the spiritual leader Khamenei the finger. Unfortunately, several hundred of them have already been arrested, more than 60 minors have been killed. And still people continue. Grandparents go to the demonstrations with their grandchildren. They don’t want reforms or concessions, they demand one thing: the Islamic Republic must go. If that is not a revolution, what is it?”
On September 16, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died while being held by Iran’s morality police. Her death sparked three months of women-led protests, still ongoing, that have rocked Iran’s theocracy. More than 500 protesters have been killed in the crackdown since then, according to the group Human Rights Activists in Iran. More than 18,200 people have been detained.
“It’s hugely important to keep the attention on the protests,” Ebadi said. “The Iranian diaspora abroad knows that it’s harder for the regime to commit crimes when everyone is looking. But the more threatened the mullahs feel, the more violent they become. That is why they have now started public executions.”
However, when asked what role Switzerland could play as a country that upholds human rights, Ebadi was critical. “I regret that Switzerland does not support the EU sanctions against Iran,” she said. “This probably has to do with economic or other interests. In any case, the Swiss government must have serious reasons for its incomprehensible sanctions policy.”
Sluggish growth, multinationals under pressure, tourism slowly on the mend, luxury industry on a high: today our economic journalists take a look at some of the main developments in store for the Swiss economy in 2023.
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