Nobel winner queries Iran summons

Ebadi is the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize

Iranian Nobel Peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi has said a judicial order calling on her to appear in court is unlawful.

Ms Ebadi told the BBC the summons, delivered on Thursday, failed to spell out why she must go to the court.

The lawyer and human rights activist, who gained global renown after winning the Nobel prize in 2003, has until Sunday to respond to the summons.

Ms Ebadi's defence of dissidents has brought her into frequent confrontation with Iran's theocratic authorities.

She recently called for the country's Islamic penal system to be reformed to safeguard human rights.

Arrest risk

Ms Ebadi told the BBC she has not yet decided whether or not to respond to the court order, but will reach a decision by Saturday.

"The court order is against Iranian law," she said. "It should clarify why they are calling me and in relation to what case."

The 57-year-old Ms Ebadi faces arrest if she refuses to respond to the summons.

Since winning the Nobel Prize, Ms Ebadi has complained of increased threats against her and has been placed under police protection.

First woman judge

Ms Ebadi came to prominence when she was appointed Iran's first woman judge. That distinction was removed after the revolution.

In 2000, she was accused of distributing the videotaped confession of a hardliner who claimed that prominent conservative leaders were instigating physical attacks on pro-reform figures.

She received a suspended jail sentence and a professional ban for this.

Recently, she has represented the family of Zahra Kazemi, a Canadian-Iranian photographer murdered in custody in 2003.