Ebadi has pursued her human rights activities criticizing the rigid interpretation of precepts of Islam, in particular to the divorce and inheritance laws. She once said, " My problem is not with Islam, it is with the culture of patriarchy." She told Britain's Guardian newspaper in June, " Practices such as stoning have no foundation in the Qu'ran". For twenty years, she has been putting out the message, it is possible to be Muslim and have laws that respect human rights. She said,`" What is worse is that people who have power in Muslim countries, violate human rights in the name of Islam."

Ebadi has had a chequered career. Although she became the first woman judge in Iran in 1974, she lost the post during the Islamic revolution in 1979. She turned to teaching in the university and at the same time became a human rights activist. She maintained a high profile in her feminist struggle by writing many books and articles. She has continued her pioneering role setting up a non-governmental organization, the Center for the Defence of Human Rights, in Iran.

She also defended Iranian dissidents in the courts. It was reported that two of her clients, liberal intellectuals, Daryoush and Forouhar were stabbed to death in a series of killings in 1998, which allegedly turned out to be the work of 'rogue elements' in the intelligence ministry. She spent time in jail for attending a conference in 2001 on Iranian reform in Berlin. She also suffered a professional ban. All this brought her increasing outside recognition from human rights groups abroad.

Ebadi was selected from a field of 165 candidates for the prize, among them Pope John Paul II and former Czech President Vaclav Havel who was a human rights activist during the communist regime. The Oslo- based Nobel Committee awarded the prize to her with the following citation, 'for her efforts in democracy and human rights.' Reacting to the news, Ebadi said in Paris that she would return soon to Iran and the prize was 'very good for me, very good for human rights and very good for democracy in Iran.'

She wasted no time in pursuing her bold fights for human rights, calling for release of political prisoners in Iran but warned the USA not to intervene in her country's affairs. In a direct swipe at the United States which had singled out Iran along with Iraq and North Korea as the 'axis of evil', after winning the award, she said, 'the fight for humans rights in Iran is conducted by the Iranian and we are against any foreign intervention in Iran.'

Ebadi also criticized the situation in Iraq under the US-led occupation since the war to topple Saddam Hussein. She said, 'Today in Iraq people have no drinking water and electricity. Without these basic needs met how can you have human rights?' She also described the state of human rights in other Muslim countries in the Middle East as not good.

While supporters of the reform movement in Iran were delighted, hardliners who do not share her liberal views were not pleased to see the outside world honouring her. However, two women MPs out of 13 in the Iranian Parliament, told the French news agency AFP, that it was a source of pride for Iran's intellectuals. Shar Banu Amani, MP, said, 'I hope that the people who do not approve of her will now reconsider their position.' Elaheh Koulale, another reformist female MP, said, 'the prize shows the world community that the democratic process in Iran is going forward.'

However, critics and observers inside and outside of Iran say that the prize was politically motivated as was in the case of Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar, who received the Peace prize in 1991. Iran incurred displeasure in the West for allegedly building nuclear weapons Furthermore this year students demonstrated on the streets for more democratic reforms as promised by 'President Khatami but rejected by the hardline clerics.. A commentator from a hard-line newspaper Resalat, Amir Mohebian, reportedly said, This prize carried the message that Europe intends to put further pressure on human rights issues in Iran as a political move to achieve its particular objectives.' Some political observers see it as a further attempt by outsiders to intervene in Iranian politics.

Ebadi stands for tolerant Islam and believes that conservative interpretation of the fundamentals of Islam does not bring any benefit to Muslims. Islam is a religion for all times as it professes peace, harmony and compassion to all. The Nobel Committee said Ebadi's struggle for human rights in Iran was daunting and that it hoped the prize would encourage those inside Iran promoting human rights and democracy.

Barrister Harun ur Rashid is a former Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, Geneva.