January 01, 2009	Thursday	Muharram 03, 1430

PARIS, Dec 31: France, acting in the name of the European Union, has summoned Iran’s ambassador to Paris to protest about the treatment of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, the French Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

The Iranian government raided Ebadi’s law office in Tehran earlier this week less than 10 days after closing the headquarters of her human rights watchdog group, a rights advocacy group in the US said on Tuesday.

The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Iran had made “unacceptable threats” to Ebadi and her colleagues, without giving further details.

“The European Presidency reminded the Iranian ambassador that the Iranian authorities are responsible for Madame Ebadi’s security, which is causing real concern within the European Union,” the statement said.

France holds the rotating presidency of the European Union until midnight on Wednesday.

The statement called on Iran to reopen Ebadi’s Human Rights Defenders Center and give it proper legal status.

Iran’s judiciary said last week that the closure of the centre on Dec 21 was a temporary measure, adding that the office could be reopened “if the group obtained the necessary legal permit” for its activities.

Ebadi has repeatedly criticised Iran’s human rights record, saying the country had the highest number of executions per capita last year and a growing number of political prisoners.

Iran’s government rejects accusations that it violates human rights and accuses its western foes of hypocrisy.—Reuters