Iran's hard-liners on Saturday accused the Nobel committee of meddling in the country's internal affairs by awarding the annual peace prize to an Iranian dissident.
Shirin Ebadi won the 2003 prize on Friday for her human rights and democracy activism. She is the first Muslim woman to win the award.
"The prize is a support for secular movements and against the ideals of the 1979 Islamic revolution," said Hamid Reza Taraqi, a former lawmaker and member of the hard-line Islamic Coalition Society.
"The Norwegian Nobel Committee, against its original objectives of promoting peace, has turned into a political tool in the hand of foreigners to interfere in the internal affairs of our country," Taraqi said.
On Saturday, Ebadi was the top story on the front page in the reformist newspapers, but hard-line dailies ignored the news.
On Friday, Iran's Vice President for legal and parliamentary affairs Mohammad-Ali Abtahi said that the Nobel peace award is by no means political motivated.
The vice president added that Ms. Ebadi has been very active in promoting the human rights, in particular those of women and children, and there is no political incentive in awarding her with the prestigious prize.
Congratulating Ms Ebadi and the Iranian nation, Abtahi termed her success as a great achievement not only for her but also for the great Iranian people. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
