Iranian human rights activist and lawyer Shirin Ebadi won the Nobel Peace Prize today for her campaigns promoting democracy in Iran and the rights of women and children. Ebadi was Iran’s first female judge but was was forced to resign after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

After learning she won, Ebadi said, “I’m a Muslim, so you can be a Muslim and support democracy. It’s very good for human rights in Iran, especially for children’s rights in Iran. I hope I can be useful.”

The Norwegian Nobel Committee said in a statement, “As a lawyer, judge, lecturer, writer and activist, she has spoken out clearly and strongly in her country, Iran, and far beyond its borders.”