Seraphim
07-13-2003, 08:54 AM
Nothing military related but I thought I'd just post this here for people to see. Im wondering how this is gonna turn out.
Detained, beaten Canadian dies in Iran
Last Updated Sun, 13 Jul 2003 3:21:58
MONTREAL - Free press advocates are demanding an investigation into the death of a Quebec photographer they believe was beaten into a coma while in police custody in Iran.
Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Saturday that freelance journalist Zahra Kazemi, 54, had died of her injuries.
Zahra Kazemi
She was reportedly arrested while taking photographs outside a prison in Tehran around June 23. Kazemi was then branded a spy and assaulted by interrogators, according to family and friends.
At a news conference in Montreal Saturday, the organization Reporters Without Borders demanded the United Nations pressure Iran to immediately return Kazemi's body to Canada so an independent autopsy could be conducted.
"It is hard to have faith in the Iranian government version of the facts," said Tanya Churchmuch, president of the Canadian chapter of the group. It wants a full and impartial probe into her death.
"The only way you can really know is to have someone not involved go in and investigate."
In Ottawa, Foreign Affairs officials said that Canada's ambassador in Tehran, Philip MacKinnon, has been told to meet with the Iranian foreign minister to find out more about Kazemi's detention, injuries and death.
Friends who visited her in hospital last Tuesday said she was unconscious, with cuts and bruises on her face and head. On Friday, hospital officials said she had suffered a brain hemorrhage and was in a coma.
Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Lillian Thomsen said the Iranian government confirmed her death Saturday. She added that Canadian officials were still trying to learn details of how Kazemi ended up in hospital.
Kazemi was born in Iran and moved to Montreal 10 years ago after living for several years in France. Her son said his mother had joint Canadian and Iranian citizenship.
She did freelance assignments in Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, and finally Iran.
On Saturday, her 26-year-old Stephan Hachemi said he was angry and in shock over the loss. He praised her as a courageous person who wanted to show the world what she saw through her lens.
"She was active, but she was not politically involved," said her son. "She was very aware of the situation in Tehran. All she was doing was informing people through her images," said her son.
A statement released by the Canadian government Saturday said Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham spoke to Hachemi and expressed his "deep sorrow and regret." It said he offered the government's "continuing support."
Arnold Amber, president of the group Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, called her death "a horror." He said the arrest and torture of journalists in Iran has been going on for "a long, long time."
He urged the Canadian government to press Iranian authorities to find and charge whoever is responsible for Kazemi's death.
According to Reporters Without Borders, at least 18 journalists are being held in prisons in Iran. Several of them have been arrested during the past few weeks covering anti-government demonstrations.
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/photos/kazemi030712.jpg
Zahra Kazemi
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/photos/hachemi030712.jpg
Kazemi's son, Stephan Hachemi
Detained, beaten Canadian dies in Iran
Last Updated Sun, 13 Jul 2003 3:21:58
MONTREAL - Free press advocates are demanding an investigation into the death of a Quebec photographer they believe was beaten into a coma while in police custody in Iran.
Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Saturday that freelance journalist Zahra Kazemi, 54, had died of her injuries.
Zahra Kazemi
She was reportedly arrested while taking photographs outside a prison in Tehran around June 23. Kazemi was then branded a spy and assaulted by interrogators, according to family and friends.
At a news conference in Montreal Saturday, the organization Reporters Without Borders demanded the United Nations pressure Iran to immediately return Kazemi's body to Canada so an independent autopsy could be conducted.
"It is hard to have faith in the Iranian government version of the facts," said Tanya Churchmuch, president of the Canadian chapter of the group. It wants a full and impartial probe into her death.
"The only way you can really know is to have someone not involved go in and investigate."
In Ottawa, Foreign Affairs officials said that Canada's ambassador in Tehran, Philip MacKinnon, has been told to meet with the Iranian foreign minister to find out more about Kazemi's detention, injuries and death.
Friends who visited her in hospital last Tuesday said she was unconscious, with cuts and bruises on her face and head. On Friday, hospital officials said she had suffered a brain hemorrhage and was in a coma.
Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Lillian Thomsen said the Iranian government confirmed her death Saturday. She added that Canadian officials were still trying to learn details of how Kazemi ended up in hospital.
Kazemi was born in Iran and moved to Montreal 10 years ago after living for several years in France. Her son said his mother had joint Canadian and Iranian citizenship.
She did freelance assignments in Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, and finally Iran.
On Saturday, her 26-year-old Stephan Hachemi said he was angry and in shock over the loss. He praised her as a courageous person who wanted to show the world what she saw through her lens.
"She was active, but she was not politically involved," said her son. "She was very aware of the situation in Tehran. All she was doing was informing people through her images," said her son.
A statement released by the Canadian government Saturday said Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham spoke to Hachemi and expressed his "deep sorrow and regret." It said he offered the government's "continuing support."
Arnold Amber, president of the group Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, called her death "a horror." He said the arrest and torture of journalists in Iran has been going on for "a long, long time."
He urged the Canadian government to press Iranian authorities to find and charge whoever is responsible for Kazemi's death.
According to Reporters Without Borders, at least 18 journalists are being held in prisons in Iran. Several of them have been arrested during the past few weeks covering anti-government demonstrations.
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/photos/kazemi030712.jpg
Zahra Kazemi
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/photos/hachemi030712.jpg
Kazemi's son, Stephan Hachemi