The biggest surprise of 2003 was when an Iranian human rights activist, Shirin Ebadi, became the first Iranian ever to win a Nobel Prize. Yet, the Nobel committee referred to her as the first Muslim woman, completely denying her nationality. That angered Iranian nationalists. Iranians have suffered enough cultural destruction from Islam, but now even the Nobel committee was denying Iranian nationality, and promoting Islam instead.

The story of SHIRIN EBADI, the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate was something for Iranians to be proud of. It began as a lyrical poem, evolving into the contemplative, national epic. It meant wonderful things to Iranians across the world. In the ancient tradition of historical epics, the story’s elements all perfectly matched the image of the inspirational melody. It was an incantation of nationality, conjuring up the soul of freedom loving Iranians everywhere.

Iranians, who had been brutalized, imprisoned and tortured by the ruthless and merciless agents of the Islamic Republic, found reason to rejoice. They thought Ms. Ebadi would now become their voice to the outside world. Her sudden international recognition gave them great hope for a bright future. They had reason to be happy and proud, but little did they know.

Ms. Ebadi, instead of becoming the voice of the voiceless and using her Noble status to speak about the atrocities of the Islamic Republic against the innocent people of Iran, she used her platform to speak against the war on terror, and to criticize the United States! She said the September 11 attacks had served to justify Islam’s violation international law and human rights.

She condemned the United States for its treatment of its detainees at Guantanamo. She attacked President Bush’s attempt to liberate the Iraqi people. She attacked Israel for defending itself against the wrath of the Palestinian suicide bombers. She made a 180 degree reversal of her human rights agenda to appease the Mullahs in Iran.

Yes, Ms. Ebadi, in her moment of glory, chose to betray the very causes she was honored for supposedly supporting. What perfidy. President Bush, for five consecutive years, has adamantly supported the Iranian people in his state of the union addresses, yet our Nobel Peace Prize Laureate has chosen to use her platform to join the chorus of America and Israel bashers. The Ayatollahs must be very pleased with Ms. Ebadi’s performance as they continue the reign of terror in Iran—with the blessing of a Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

While Islamic militants issues decrees (Fatwa) against the civilized world, Ms. Ebadi spends her $1.2 million Peace Prize to promote the Islamic ‘democracy.’ Ms. Ebadi, speaking in Paris, denied that Islam needs reformation or modernization. Instead, she said, the West needs to understand Islam. We quickly inform Ms. Ebadi that not only does the West understand Islam, but so do the Iranian people who are being held hostage in their own country. We reject Islam as a form of government!

Ebadi herself has been betrayed by Islam. Under the former, secular regime, she was a courtroom judge in Iran. But the Islamic regime removed her from that office, since Islam says that a woman’s brain is worth half of that of a man (Qur’an, 2:282.) Yet, she continues to promote Islam, even though that same Islam has denied her rights as a human being. She obviously fears the mullahs.

Should we blame the Nobel Committee, which also bestowed Nobel Peace Prizes upon the former US president Jimmy Carter (who is responsible for the creation of an Islamic state in Iran) and former Palestinian terrorist, Yaser Arafat, (who is responsible for hundreds of terrorist attacks against civilian people as well)? If anything, this action should alert us all of the true nature of the Nobel Prize Committee.

Currently, Ms. Ebadi is spending some time in the United States and speaking in Persian (with English translation provided) about the publication of her new book, Iran Awakening: A Memoir of Revolution and Hope. She is also expected to appear on the Oprah Winfery show, which most Iranians protest. Iranians feel totally betrayed by Ms. Ebadi and they wish to convey this message to Ms. Winfery before Ms. Ebadi appears as a guest on her show.

At the end one must ask oneself whether Ms. Ebadi is truly what the Noble Committee believed her to be, a champion of human rights, or is she simply a spokesperson for the most vicious, tyrannical, oppressive and barbaric system known to the history of man, the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Amil Imani is an Iranian-born American Citizen and pro- democracy activist living in the United States of America. Imani is a columnist, literary translator, poet, and novelist, who speaks out for the struggling people of his native land, Iran. His website is www.amilimani.com