-
-
Related
Iran 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," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said in comments carried by semi-official news agency Mehr.
Norway's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday Ebadi's gold Nobel medal and her award 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 Ebadi's husband had been arrested in Tehran and severely beaten. The Iranian statement made no reference to that accusation.
A Norwegian committee picks the Nobel peace laureates, while Nobels in other categories are chosen in Sweden.
Tensions have been high in Iran after a disputed election in June, which returned hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power but set off the biggest anti-government demonstrations in the 30 years of the Islamic Republic.
