Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi's sister "arrested in Iran"

Ms Ebadi said her sister Nooshin, a medical professor, was arrested at home on Monday evening, and taken to prison.

She said her sister was only detained to prevent her own human rights work. Several journalists are also being held, according to opposition sources.

Earlier, Tehran rejected international calls for it to halt the crackdown.

"Britain will receive a punch on the mouth if it does not stop the nonsense," said Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, responding to criticism from his counterpart, David Miliband.

Iran's government says the violent opposition protests across the country on Sunday, in which at least eight people were killed, were inspired and aided by the West.

MPs have demanded "maximum punishment" for those involved.

In a statement posted on the opposition website, Rahesabz, Ms Ebadi said her sister had been arrested at 2100 (1630 GMT) on Monday at her home in Tehran by four intelligence agents and sent to prison.

"I am not aware of the place of her detention or the reason for her arrest," Ms Ebadi said.

"Over the last two months my sister has been summoned by the ministry of intelligence several times and asked to convince me to give up my human rights activities. She was also told to move from her house which is near my flat and they threatened to arrest her."

"My sister has not been involved in any social, human rights and political activities," she added.

Three journalists and a women's rights campaigner have also been detained, along with several senior opposition figures, according to opposition sources.

The prominent journalist, Mashallah Shamsolvaezin, was arrested at his home on Tuesday morning, according to the Rahesabz website.

"Six young men in plainclothes entered his house with a blank warrant, he resisted and asked for one with a name," it reported.

"But an hour later, four older men showed up and threatened to take him forcibly if he did not go with them."


/BBC/