Nobel laureate's sister detained in Iran

TEHRAN, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The sister of Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi has been detained by Iranian intelligence officials, the Iranian lawyer and human rights activist said.

Ebadi, who won the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize for her human rights work, said four people arrived Monday at the home she shared with her sister's family, searched it, then took away Nushin Ebadi and a computer, CNN reported Tuesday.

"They have detained her so I stop my work," Shirin Ebadi, 62, told CNN during a phone call from London. "She has done nothing wrong. She's not involved in human rights work, and she's never participated in any of the protests."

Nushin Ebadi's arrest comes during another violent crackdown on anti-government protesters that has left at least eight dead, although the Iranian government denies its forces killed anyone.

Shirin Ebadi's law firm represents seven people who have been charged with spying. She told CNN she believes Iranian officials are trying to intimidate her through her sister.

"They want to intimidate me," she said. "The only thing they want is for me to change my work."

Shirin Ebadi left Iran for a conference the day before the June presidential election that led to an earlier round of deadly protests. She said friends warned her not to return to Tehran.

The lawyer said she spoke with her sister Monday several hours before the raid. She said Iranian Information Ministry officials had contacted Nushin Ebadi several times, telling her to leave their apartment and warned her against contacting Shirin Ebadi.