RAHA News: Shirin Ebadi receives Nobel Peace Prize

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Shirin Ebadi receives Nobel Peace Prize

RAHA/11/November/2003

From correspondents in Oslo

IRANIAN lawyer Shirin Ebadi received the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo overnight for her democracy-building efforts and her work to improve human rights in Iran, making her the first Muslim woman to receive the prestigious award.

Ebadi, 56, received the prize from chairman of the Nobel Committee Ole Mjoes at a formal ceremony at Oslo's City Hall.

Dressed in a champagne skirt suit and wearing make-up, Ebadi was not wearing the hijab, the headscarf that under Iranian law is mandatory for all Iranian women, both inside and outside the country.

"All people are entitled to fundamental rights, and at a time when Islam is being demonised in many quarters of the Western world, it was the Norwegian Nobel Committee's wish to underline how important and how valuable it is to foster dialogue between peoples and between civilisations," Mjoes said in his introduction speech.

"This is a wish that most people share and that is why the reactions to this year's award have been so positive, even though we understand if you had perhaps hoped for a few more congratulations from the authorities of your own home country and region," he added.

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