Iranian court decision outrages Canadians
Son of 'murdered' photojournalist says next step is International Court of Justice
The New York Times reports Monday that
Iranian lawyer Shirin Ebadi, who was awarded the Noble Peace Prize last year, vowed Sunday that she
would continue to work to bring the killer of Canadian photojournalist, Zahra Kazemi, to justice, in a court case that
has led to serious problems between Canada and Iran.
Ms. Ebadi's comments came one day after an Iranian court
cleared Iranian intelligence agent Mohammed Reza Ahmadi of responsibility in Ms. Kazemi's death. Ebadi has been representing the Kazemi family, and has 20 days to launch an appeal, which she said she would do. It is a case that the
BBC reports has also "
deepened the rift between Iran's reformist government and the hardline judiciary, with both sides accusing the other of a cover-up."
In July 2003, Kazemi
had been taking pictures outside the notorious Evin prison in Tehran, when she was detained by Iranian police. Three days later she was dead. Iranian authorities at first said she had died of a "stroke," but
ChannelNewsAsia reported that an official government report later revealed "she had been
struck by a blunt object while being interrogated." The report also said Kazemi's body also showed signs of torture. Despite repeated requests, Iran refused to turn her body over to Canadian officials, and instead hastily buried it in Iran.
The
Guardian reports that the trail is seen as
part of a larger internal conflict.
The failed prosecution of Mr Ahmadi is seen as part of a battle between the conservative judiciary and the reform-minded government. His employer, the intelligence ministry, is controlled by reformists. The legal team Ms. Ebadi leads suggested that the real killer was a judiciary official in Evin prison.
The Globe and Mail reports the Canadian government has "demanded" Iran renew its investigation into Kazemi's death. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew said he was not prepared to
rule out any option in terms of what actions Canada may take against Iran. It has already withdrawn its ambassador to Tehran after the Iranian court
refused to allow any Canadian officials or members of foreign media to cover the trial.
"The Canadian government is reviewing its options, but the general view is one way or another, Iran should be sanctioned," a senior Canadian Foreign Affairs Ministry official told
Agence France-Presse. The source, who asked not to be named, said a possible step could include a permanent downgrading of relations with Iran. But the Canadian response was not enough for Kazemi's son, Stephan Hachemi, who has been pushing for tougher action against the Iranian government.
The Toronto Star reports that Mr. Hachemi called the Canadian government "cowardly" and said the verdict was "
clearly a coverup."
"It's scandalous. I'm fed up pushing after the Canadian government," he said in an interview. "This is ridiculous. It's revolting. A Canadian citizen underwent 72 hours of interrogations, was tortured to death, and over a year later the Canadian government is still reviewing its options after being humiliated, lied to, toyed around [with], and after that Iran closed the case and insulted me and my family by offering blood money," Mr. Hachemi added in a e-mail statement. "They don't get it." In Iran, the
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports, the family of a murder victim
is offered "blood money." The money comes from an individual if that person is convicted, otherwise the government pays it. On Saturday, the Iranian government offered her family $14,000. (The family of a murdered woman only receives half of what the family of a murdered man receives). Kazemi's family has rejected the money.
Mr. Hachemi says he is also considering taking the matter to the International Court of Justice in The Hague if Iranian officials
do not reopen the case.
In an editorial Monday, the
Globe and Mail wrote that while the Canadian approach so far has been "correct and patient ... the
time for patience is now over."
Now that the answer is in, Canada must show its outrage over Iran's shabby and dishonorable response to the murder of a Canadian citizen. Unless the regime announces immediately that it is taking concrete, credible new measures to bring the killer or killers to justice, Canada should downgrade its permanent relations with the Islamic republic. The next step would be to curtail trade relations. At the same time, Canada should bring the case to other international bodies, from the United Nations Human Rights Commission to the European Union. Already under pressure for its rogue nuclear program and its ties to the Al Qaeda terrorist organization, Tehran must be made to feel the heat over its shameful record on domestic human rights. Finally, in a sign that Iranian reformists want to take the dispute with hardline judiciary to the next level,
Reuters reports that Monday Iran's reformist government "volunteered" to help the hardline judiciary find out who killed Kazemi. "The Intelligence Ministry is ready, if the judiciary allows it and wants a
full and transparent investigation, ... to take measures to identify the truth about this issue," government spokesman Abdollah Ramazanzadeh told a weekly news conference.
Also...
•
If Iran's people won't stop the mullahs, it's up to us (
Charles Krauthammer/Syndicated Columnist)
•
Worry about Pakistan, not Iran (
The Daily Star, Lebanon)
•
Iran says US Senators 'daydream' of regime change (
Reuters)
•
Iran new US whipping boy (
Toronto Sun)
•
Iran rejects claims of 9/11 links (
BBC)
•
Push to secure Iraq's borders reveals Iran's concerns (
Associated Press)
• Feedback appreciated. E-mail
Tom Regan
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