Shirin Ebadi Once Again Calls for Immediate Release of All Political Prisoners in Iran - 2003-10-16

Shirin Ebadi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, once again called for the immediate release of all political prisoners in Iran on Wednesday morning. According to reports, in recent months the Islamic government has imprisoned dozens of political activists and journalists. Ms. Ebadi returned to Tehran on Tuesday night to a warm welcome from thousands, including women who wore white headscarves as a sign of their support for peaceful change. In her first press conference, she reiterated the necessity of freeing political prisoners and stated that she is not seeking a political position but aims to contribute to the promotion of human rights and the advancement of democratic reforms in Iran. Upon her return to Tehran, she addressed those who welcomed her, saying: 'The award is not mine; it belongs to the people of Iran, and it signifies that the Iranian people's demand for the realization of human rights, democracy, and peace has reached the world.' The Islamic Republic government has dismissed the peace prize awarded to Ms. Ebadi as insignificant and criticized the Nobel Committee, claiming that its decision was politically motivated.