Iran: Closure of Human Rights Center

American media is reporting the closure of the Center for the Defense of Human Rights, headed by lawyer and Nobel Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi, by Iranian security yesterday. Center officials and the US media are speculating that the closure is connected with a ceremony, due to take place hours later, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.



Iran's Mehr News Agency said the closure was due to the Center's "illegal activities, such as publishing statements, writing letters to international organizations and holding news conferences". The Center was due to give a prize to Taghi Rahmani, an opposition figure arrested several times for "crimes against national security".

Any further information on the closure would be welcomed.