Norway protests against closure of Shirring Ebadi’s human rights centre

Yesterday the Iranian authorities closed the Centre for Defence of Human Rights in Tehran. The centre was established and is headed by Iranian lawyer and human rights defender Shirin Ebadi, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.  

“The Norwegian Government is deeply concerned about the Iranian authorities’ closure of the human rights centre,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. 

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s centre was closed as it was preparing to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A group of defence lawyers at the centre have taken on some of the most high-profile and difficult human rights cases in the country. 

“The closure of the centre illustrates that freedom of expression and organisation are under pressure in Iran, and that human rights defenders in the country are working under extremely difficult conditions. Norway has spearheaded international efforts to protect human rights defenders. This is a priority area for the Norwegian Government with respect to Iran and other countries,” said Foreign Minister Støre.

Norway has maintained close contact with EU and other like-minded countries concerning a reaction vis-à-vis the Iranian authorities.