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CNN) -- The United Nations should "urge" Iran to release political prisoners rounded up during the recent unrest following last month's disputed presidential elections, a group of Nobel Peace Prize winners have declared.

The laureates, including Desmond Tutu, said the detention of lawyer Shirin Ebadi is illegal.

The group of 10 Nobel laureates, including former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and South African Bishop Desmond Tutu, made the request in a letter to the secretary-general of the United Nations on Monday.

They also cited a concern for fellow Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi. The Iranian lawyer won the prize in 2003 for her push for democracy and women's and children's rights.

In their letter to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the laureates said that Iranian news organizations published an anonymous letter that called for Ebadi's prosecution for violating Islamic and constitutional law.

"These allegations are unfounded and are widely seen as the regime's attempt to lay the groundwork for her illegal arrest and detention," the laureates wrote.

"We call upon you to warn Iranian authorities that Dr. Ebadi's arrest because of her h... >>>