TEHRAN – Iran has denied Norway’s accusation that Tehran had confiscated the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to human rights campaigner Shirin Ebadi in 2003.
“We are surprised to see Norwegian authorities taking a tendentious stance and in a hasty attitude ignoring laws and rules which are respected by everyone,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said yesterday in comments carried by semi-official news agency Mehr.
Norway’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that Ms Ebadi’s gold Nobel medal and diploma had been removed from her bank box together with other personal items, and summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires in protest.
It also said Ms Ebadi’s husband had been arrested in Tehran and severely beaten. The Iranian statement made no reference to that accusation.
A Norwegian committee chooses the Nobel peace laureates, while Nobel prizes in other categories are chosen in Sweden.
Tensions have been high in Iran since a disputed election in June, which returned hardline Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power but set off the biggest anti-government demonstrations in the 30 years of the Islamic republic.
– (Reuters)