Shirin Ebadi's Nobel Peace Prize · Shirin Ebadi

Culture of origin: Iranian · International

Holiday sources: Iran

Shirin Ebadi received the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize for her pioneering efforts for democracy and for the rights of women, children and refugees, the first Iranian to win it. In 1975 she became the first woman to preside over the Tehran city court, but after the 1979 revolution women were barred from serving as judges and she was made a clerk in her own court; she could not practise law until 1993. She founded the Defenders of Human Rights Center and has lived in exile in London since 2009.