11 October 2003

Bush Congratulates Shirin Ebadi on Winning Nobel Peace Prize

Expresses support for Iranian freedom and democracy

Following is the text of President Bush's statement congratulating Shirin Ebadi for winning the Nobel Peace Prize, and expressing America's support for the Iranian people's aspirations for freedom and democracy:

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The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
October 11, 2003

Statement by the President

The United States congratulates Shirin Ebadi on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize
-- a first for an Iranian, and for a Muslim woman. The prize recognizes her lifetime of championing human rights and democracy. I strongly support the Iranian people's aspirations for freedom, and their desire for democracy. The future of Iran must be decided by the people of Iran. Americans look forward to the day when a free Iran stands as an example of tolerance, prosperity, and democracy in the Middle East and around the world.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)