Born in 1947, Shirin Ebadi trained in law, obtained a doctorate from Tehran University and served as a judge from March 1969 - the first woman ever to do so in Iran. Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution in February 1979 she, and other female judges, were dismissed from their posts and given clerical duties (in Ebadi's case, in the very court she had presided over). She resigned in protest and was, in effect, housebound for many years until finally, in 1992, she succeeded in obtaining a lawyer's license and setting up her own practice. She then represented various high-profile cases of political victims, journalists, child custody cases and others until she was forced to live in exile in London.

"Ebadi's inspiring memoir offers a first-hand look at her remarkable life" The Times "Riveting" Sunday Times "One of the most remarkable resistance heroines of our dangerous times" Telegraph "The riveting story of an amazing and very brave woman living through some quite turbulent times. And she emerges with head unbowed" Archbishop Desmond Tutu "One of the staunchest advocates for human rights in her country and beyond, Ms Ebadi, herself a devout Muslim, represents hope for many in Muslim societies that Islam and democracy are indeed compatible" Azar Nafisi, author of Reading Lolita in Tehran

Born in 1947, Shirin Ebadi trained in law, obtained a doctorate from Tehran University and served as a judge from March 1969 - the first woman ever to do so in Iran. Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution in February 1979 she, and other female judges, were dismissed from their posts and given clerical duties (in Ebadi's case, in the very court she had presided over). She resigned in protest and was, in effect, housebound for many years until finally, in 1992, she succeeded in obtaining a lawyer's license and setting up her own practice. She then represented various high-profile cases of political victims, journalists, child custody cases and others until she was forced to live in exile in London.

"Ebadi's inspiring memoir offers a first-hand look at her remarkable life" The Times "Riveting" Sunday Times "One of the most remarkable resistance heroines of our dangerous times" Telegraph "The riveting story of an amazing and very brave woman living through some quite turbulent times. And she emerges with head unbowed" Archbishop Desmond Tutu "One of the staunchest advocates for human rights in her country and beyond, Ms Ebadi, herself a devout Muslim, represents hope for many in Muslim societies that Islam and democracy are indeed compatible" Azar Nafisi, author of Reading Lolita in Tehran

Born in 1947, Shirin Ebadi trained in law, obtained a doctorate from Tehran University and served as a judge from March 1969 - the first woman ever to do so in Iran. Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution in February 1979 she, and other female judges, were dismissed from their posts and given clerical duties (in Ebadi's case, in the very court she had presided over). She resigned in protest and was, in effect, housebound for many years until finally, in 1992, she succeeded in obtaining a lawyer's license and setting up her own practice. She then represented various high-profile cases of political victims, journalists, child custody cases and others until she was forced to live in exile in London.

"Ebadi's inspiring memoir offers a first-hand look at her remarkable life" The Times "Riveting" Sunday Times "One of the most remarkable resistance heroines of our dangerous times" Telegraph "The riveting story of an amazing and very brave woman living through some quite turbulent times. And she emerges with head unbowed" Archbishop Desmond Tutu "One of the staunchest advocates for human rights in her country and beyond, Ms Ebadi, herself a devout Muslim, represents hope for many in Muslim societies that Islam and democracy are indeed compatible" Azar Nafisi, author of Reading Lolita in Tehran