(3 January 2009) Following an extensive campaign of persecution against Shirin Ebadi and her colleagues by Iranian authorities, culminating in a mob attack on her home and office on 1 January, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today issued a statement expressing his concerns about these developments. He also called on Iran to immediately stop further persecution of Ebadi.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran notes that the Iranian government’s sustained attacks on Ebadi have deeply isolated Iran in the international community and caused great damage to Iran’s national interests.The text of the Secretary General’s statement is as follows:

“The Secretary-General is greatly concerned about reports that Iranian lawyer, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi has been threatened in recent days, her Center for the Defense of Human Rights broken into and materials taken, and that hostile crowds have mobilized today outside her office and home. He calls on the Iranian authorities to take immediate measures to prevent any further harassment and to ensure Shirin Ebadi’s safety and security.”