December 4, 2003	Thursday	Shawwal 9, 1424

TEHRAN, Dec 3: A group of hardline Iranians on Wednesday prevented Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi from giving a speech at a women’s university in Tehran by chanting slogans including “Death to Ebadi”.

“Around 50 students stopped Shirin Ebadi from giving a speech. The event had to be cancelled,” an official said.

The protestors were also quoted as chanting “Shirin the American, ask for pardon”.

Ebadi shocked Iranians by appearing without a headscarf in Paris after the announcement of her award on October 10.

—AFP