Iranian government confiscates Nobel Peace Prize

In an interview published in the Persian service of the German Deutsche Welle television, Shirin Ebadi stated that the Iranian government had intensified its threats against her safety since a year and a half ago and had also tried to limit her work by closing down her office in Iran which was dedicated to Human rights activities. “I called the Police. He just laughed and observed the attack on my office.”

Lately the Iranian government announced that as a result of Shirin Ebadi’s acquisition of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, she is obliged to pay more than $400 000 to the government as tax despite the fact that according to Iranian tax laws, awards are not considered as taxable assets.

“They have also placed my sister, brother and husband under severe pressure and threats,” she said. According to Shirin Ebadi the Intelligence Ministry has sent two individuals in order to threaten and convince her sister into moving from her house which Shirin Ebadi used to reside in.

The former judge also confirmed reports regarding the freezing of her bank accounts by the Iranian government and the cutting of her pension for the 15 years that she had served as judge in Iran. What is remarkable is the fact that the same treatment has been applied to her husband which has never been involved in the work of his wife in any way.

In addition, the veteran Human Rights activist revealed that her husband was not permitted to leave the country so that she would “put an end to her Human Rights activities.” However Ebadi ruled out that the idea of ceasing her activities as a result of the measures against her and her family. “Everything I do is inside the boundaries of Iranian law and I will never cease my activities.”

Ebadi also added that a number of her prized possessions including the Nobel Peace Prize (2003) and Légion d'honneur (2006) had effectively been confiscated by the Iranian government after they seized the assets of her husband which contained Mrs Ebadi’s private possessions.

Shirin Ebadi is an outspoken critic of the Human Rights situation in Iran.