Amsterdam  - The Dutch foreign ministry condemned the closure of an Iranian human rights centre run by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi in Tehran, Dutch officials said in a statement late Monday.

Earlier on Monday the European Union had issued a statement, also initiated by the Netherlands, condemning the office's closure and calling upon the Iranian authorities to respect international human rights.

The European statement also demanded the reopening of the office, with a license from the Iranian authorities.

On Sunday Iranian police raided and subsequently closed Ebadi's Defenders for Human Rights Centre. The centre had planned an event that day to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003. (dpa)