Who was the first Muslim woman in the world to receive a Nobel Prize, recognised internationally for her work promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law?

Introduction / Context:
The Nobel Peace Prize has often highlighted the efforts of individuals who defend human rights and promote democracy, sometimes in very challenging political environments. The question of who was the first Muslim woman to receive a Nobel Prize is important both from the perspective of gender representation and from the standpoint of the Muslim world participation in global honours. Remembering her name is valuable for general knowledge, especially in topics related to international peace, rights activism, and inspiring women leaders.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks for the first Muslim woman Nobel laureate.
• The options include Shirin Ebadi and three other names that are not associated with Nobel awards.
• The category of the prize is not explicitly mentioned in the question but is known to be the Nobel Peace Prize.
• We assume the question refers to widely accepted historical records of Nobel laureates.

Concept / Approach:
Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian lawyer and former judge, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her efforts to promote democracy, human rights, and in particular, the rights of women and children in Iran. She is recognised as the first Muslim woman to receive any Nobel Prize. The other names in the options do not correspond to known Nobel laureates and are used only as distractors. Therefore, the approach is to recall the specific association of Shirin Ebadi with this historic milestone and select her name as the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the phrase first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Prize. Step 2: Recall that Shirin Ebadi from Iran was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her human rights work. Step 3: Compare the recall with the options and see that her name is present as one of the choices. Step 4: Recognise that the other listed names are not associated with the Nobel Prize in standard references. Step 5: Conclude that Shirin Ebadi is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done through Nobel Prize official records and reliable general knowledge compendiums which clearly state that Shirin Ebadi was the first Muslim woman Nobel laureate. Her award received wide international media coverage, especially highlighting her identity as a Muslim woman activist. Checking multiple sources confirms that no earlier Nobel Prize was awarded to a Muslim woman before 2003, so this identification is accurate and historically well established.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Phil Ersa: This name does not correspond to a recognised Nobel laureate in mainstream exam references and appears only as a distractor.
Lakpa Sherpa: While similar sounding names may appear in mountaineering or adventure contexts, this option is not linked to the Nobel Prize and is incorrect here.
Irine Zubeida: This is also not a known Nobel laureate in standard sources and has likely been included to test whether candidates truly know the correct name.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may confuse Shirin Ebadi with later Muslim women laureates or mix up her name due to unfamiliar spelling. Others may get diverted by names that suggest different regions or communities. To avoid these mistakes, it is useful to associate Shirin Ebadi’s name with Iran, the year 2003, the Nobel Peace Prize, and the phrase first Muslim woman laureate. This cluster of memory cues helps ensure that her name is correctly recalled in exam situations.

Final Answer:
The first Muslim woman to receive a Nobel Prize is Shirin Ebadi, honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.