SPAIN: Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi condems human rights violations in her country

Record ID: 1525700

  • Title: SPAIN: Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi condems human rights violations in her country
  • Date: 10th September 2009
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (SEPTEMBER 09, 2009) (REUTERS) BANNER SHOWING NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER SHIRIN EBADI'S BOOK "THE GOLDEN CAGE" EBADI NEXT TO BANNER EBADI AT INTERVIEW CLOSE UP OF EBADI'S PROFILE EBADI AT INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) 2003 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER, SHIRIN EBADI SAYING: "There are facts indicating that what they say is not true. But more important than this issue, is the bad behaviour of the Iranian government towards the opposition." EBADI'S HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) 2003 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER, SHIRIN EBADI SAYING: "Unfortunately, inflation was a lot higher, censorship became more extreme and human rights were furher violated." EBADI AT INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) 2003 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER, SHIRIN EBADI SAYING: "I actually believe that because the United Nations Council has issued four directives asking Iran to stop uranium enrichment, we should in fact halt uranium enrichment." EBADI AT INTERVIEW / EBADI'S BOOK CLOSE UP OF EBADI EBADI'S HANDS / CLOSE UP OF EBADI EBADI GREETING JOURNALIST EBADI SHAKING HAND EBADI LEAVING INTERVIEW
  • Embargoed: 25th September 2009 12:22
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA1QKL8HQMFBYAKMO9OIV0WR94S
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi said on Wednesday (September 9), that Iran's elections had not been transparent and called on the Iranian government to stop its uranium enrichment programme.
    Ebadi who is in Madrid to launch her book "The Golden Cage" said there were a lot of indications pointing at irregularities in her country's latest presidential elections and condemned the treatment those who had taken to the streets in protest.
    "More important is the bad behaviour of the Iranian government towards the opposition," Ebadi said.
    Ebadi has previously called on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to prosecute perpetrators of shootings of protesters and pay compensation to their families.
    Iran's latest elections and its turbulent aftermath plunged Iran into its deepest internal crisis since the 1979 Islamic revolution, exposing deepening divisions within its ruling elites and adding to tension with the West.
    An ally of Iranian opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi was detained on Tuesday (September 8), reformist websites said, in the latest move signalling increased pressure by the authorities on pro-reform foes of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
    Mousavi, who finished second in the election, says the poll was rigged to secure Ahmadinejad's re-election. The authorities deny the charge.
    Rights groups say thousands of people, including senior pro-reform figures, were arrested after the presidential poll almost three months ago. Most of them have been freed but more than 200 remain in jail, according to the opposition.
    "Unfortunately, inflation was a lot higher, censorship became more extreme and human rights were furher violated," said Ebadi.
    The Nobel prize winner also said Iran should adhere to U.N. calls for the country to end of the uranium enrichment programme.
    "I actually believe that because the United Nations Council has issued four directives asking Iran to stop uranium enrichment, we should in fact halt uranium enrichment," she said.
    Iran's Foreign Minister on Wednesday handed over a package of proposals to representatives of world powers but also reaffirmed an unwillingness to negotiate on its campaign to enrich uranium, a process Western powers suspect Iran will eventually put to building atom bombs.
    U.S. President Barack Obama has indicated Iran will face much harsher sanctions, targeting its vital oil sector, if it does not accept negotiations by the end of September.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register