Norway: Iran has Nobel laureate's deposit box with medal (Roundup)

Nov 27, 2009, 14:32 GMT

   Tehran/Oslo - A Norwegian diplomat was told Friday that Iranian authorities are in possession of a bank deposit box containing the medal awarded to 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, the Norwegian foreign ministry said.

Norwegian Ambassador Roald Naess was informed during a meeting at the foreign ministry in Tehran that 'the bank deposit box has been confiscated,' Norwegian foreign ministry spokeswoman Ragnhild Imerslund told the German Press Agency dpa.

The bank deposit box contained 'the Nobel medal, diploma and some personal items,' Imerslund said.

The Iranian action was attributed to an outstanding tax matter.

Naess repeated Oslo's protest against the treatment of Ebadi, who also was contacted by Norwegian authorities.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store on Thursday said it was the first time a Nobel Peace Prize has been confiscated by national authorities.

Earlier Friday, Iran denied having confiscated the medal, the Mehr news agency reported.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said 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 the alleged 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.'