December 22, 2008	Monday	Zilhaj 23, 1429

TEHRAN, Dec 21: Iranian police on Sunday raided and closed the office of a watchdog group led by the country’s Nobel peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi ahead of a celebration to mark the International Human Rights Day.

Iran’s judiciary confirmed the closure of the Human Rights Defenders Centre, saying it was involved in ‘illegal’ activities.

“Tehran prosecutor ordered the closure of the office of Human Rights Defenders Centre because of its illegal activities,” the Mehr news agency reported.

“The centre was acting as a (political) party without having legal permit. It had illegal contacts with local and foreign organisations. It had organised news conferences and seminars.”

Ebadi, winner of the 2003 Nobel peace prize, said it would not stop human rights activists.

“The closure of the office without providing a legal warrant is illegal. We will protest against it,” Ebadi told Reuters.

Narges Mohammadi, deputy head of the centre, said that dozens of policemen, including security agents in civvies, entered the office without showing a search warrant.

“A policeman said he was not obliged to show a warrant because he was wearing a police uniform,” Mohammadi said.

—Reuters