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Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi warns UN of unrest in Iran

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Summary of story from RFE/RL, April 19, 2011

Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi has warned the United Nations of the possible spread of unrest in Iran’s Khuzestan Province, home to most of the country’s ethnic Arab minority.

Ms Ebadi sent a letter to UN human rights chief Navi Pillay in which she describes a deadly crackdown by Iranian security forces last week on a peaceful protest in Khuzestan’s capital, Ahvaz.

In the letter, she says that at least 12 people were killed in the clashes, 20 others were injured, and dozens were arrested.

Human rights activists told RFE/RL they have received reports that there were more than 150 arrests, including a number of intellectuals, artists, and women’s rights activists.

Hamed Kanani, a member of London’s Ahvaz Human Rights organization, told Radio Farda that several women and a 17-year-old were among the dead.

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