Shirin Ebadi awarded LI Prize for Freedom

Liberal International has awarded its 2010 Prize for Freedom to Dr Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Seven Liberal Democrats, led by International Relations Committee chair

Robert Woodthorpe Browne, LIBG chair Julie Smith and Liberal Democrat European Group chair Phil Bennion, travelled to Brussels for the ceremony, at which the prize was presented by LI President Hans van Baalen MEP.

Dr Ebadi won the award for her significant and pioneering efforts supporting democracy and human rights in Iran.

Mr van Baalen said: "Shirin Ebadi has always spoken out for those who have needed help; As an independent judge she has spoken for the rule of law: If there is one country where people must work for human rights every day it is Iran and we believe in the people of Iran"

Accepting the award Dr Ebadi said; "I am very grateful and honoured. I would like to dedicate the award to those in my country who are behind bars. It appears that the world has forgotten that Iranian people are being killed and imprisoned The Iranian people do not want investment in nuclear energy; what Iranian people want is democracy and human rights!

Governments come and go, it is nations that remain. I ask that we do something to ensure that nations can remain friends."

The picture shows Dr Ebadi receicing the prize from LI president Hans van Baalen watched by LI secretary general Emil Kirjas