Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Shirin Ebadi on Tuesday returned to Tehran, and urged authorities to freeing all the political prisoners, AFP reported.
"I hope that all political prisoners will be freed," Ebadi, the first Muslim woman and first Iranian to win the prize, told reporters after she stepped off an Iran Air Boeing 747 from Paris.
"This prize is not only for me, but for all those in favour of peace, democracy, human rights and legality," she said.
"The world recognizes the fight of Muslim women, and this is my political message," she said. "My message for Iranians is a message of love, friendship, peace and justice."
At the airport, Ebadi gave only a brief declaration to the crowd before being whisked away.
"I cannot meet you tonight, there are too many people. I am sorry for this evening but, as of tomorrow, I will be at your service," she told the crowd briefly while standing on a chair.
Earlier in the day, Iran's President Mohammed Khatami, expressed pleasure that an Iranian Muslim woman was awarded the peace price while attatching significance to the scientific and literaray award.
It should be recalled that after the 1979 Islamic revolution, the conservative clerics who seized power told Ebadi, Iran's first female judge, she could no longer serve as a judge.
In recent years, Ebadi has stepped up her campaign for women's rights and therefore was criticized by these clerics. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
