DUBAI, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Previous Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi said on Friday she hoped that the awarding of this year's prize to Narges Mohammadi would bring democracy and equality to Iranian women.

"I congratulate Narges Mohammadi and all Iranian women for this prize ... This prize will shed light on violation of women's rights in the Islamic Republic ... which unfortunately has proven that it cannot be reformed," Ebadi told Reuters.

Iran's imprisoned women's rights advocate Narges Mohammadi won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in a rebuke to Tehran's theocratic leaders and boost for anti-government protesters.

Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Alex Richardson

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