Iran denies confiscating Nobel laureate's medal

Nov 27, 2009, 9:12 GMT

   Tehran - Tehran on Friday denied having confiscated the medal awarded to 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, the Mehr news agency reported.

   Norway had on Thursday protested strongly against the Iranian move and said this was the first time a Nobel Peace Prize has been confiscated by national authorities.

   Iran's charge d'affaires was summoned over the matter, the Foreign

Ministry in Oslo said.

   Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that there has been no confiscation and linked the issue to non-payment of taxes by Ebadi.

   'We really wonder about this stance by Norwegian officials without thorough study of the case,' the spokesman said.

   Mehmanparast called on Norway to respect global tax laws but did not make clear what exactly was confiscated from Ebadi due to non-payment of her taxes.

   Ebadi has not returned to Iran since the unrest following the disputed June 12 presidential election and is likely to be arrested if she does because of her outspoken opposition to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Islamic establishment.

   Ebadi was awarded the peace prize for 'her efforts for democracy and human rights, especially the rights of women and children, in Iran and the Muslim world in general.'