EvanL
07-14-2004, 04:13 PM
1 hour, 53 minutes ago
OTTAWA (AFP) - Canada is recalling its ambassador to Iran to protest Tehran's refusal to allow Canadian observers at the trial of the accused killer of Iranian-Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi, Foreign Minister Bill Graham announced.
AFP/File Photo
"I am recalling our ambassador to Tehran," Graham told reporters, adding that he was scheduled to meet Iran's ambassador to Canada later Wednesday.
Graham, accompanied by Kazemi's son, Stephan Hashemi, told reporters: "We were informed by Iran this morning of their intention not to let Canadian observers at the trial. This is completely unacceptable.
"There should be a public trial to see that justice is done."
He recalled that the case involved "the death of a Canadian journalist in Iran," and Canada had the right to see justice being done.
"This is not the case in a secret trial," he said. "We do not accept the position of Iran."
Asked if Canada would take Iran to the International Court of Justice, Graham said: "That is a possibility. But there are problems."
The main problem, he said, was that "all sides must agree" to the court's jurisdiction.
Asked about possible economic sanctions against Iran, he said: "It is time to consider everything. We have to look at what can be effective."
Hashemi interjected: "Economic sanctions can harm the people more than the government."
Earlier, in Tehran, foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said: "Iran does not feel at all obliged to accept the presence of Canadian observers in this trial."
He added: "The case is a domestic issue which is being taken care of by the Islamic Republic of Iran's judiciary, and the government is seriously following the case to see a fair trial and justice done."
Iranian intelligence agent Mohammad Reza Aghdam Ahmadi faces the charge of "semi-intentional murder," a year after Kazemi died from injuries sustained while in the custody of authorities in Tehran.
According to an official report, the 54-year-old photographer was hit on the head by a blunt object -- reportedly a shoe -- while being interrogated. She died in hospital on July 10, 2003 from a brain haemorrhage.
She had been arrested for taking pictures outside Tehran's notorious Evin prison, which at the time was packed with thousands of protesters who took part in last summer's anti-regime protests.
OTTAWA (AFP) - Canada is recalling its ambassador to Iran to protest Tehran's refusal to allow Canadian observers at the trial of the accused killer of Iranian-Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi, Foreign Minister Bill Graham announced.
AFP/File Photo
"I am recalling our ambassador to Tehran," Graham told reporters, adding that he was scheduled to meet Iran's ambassador to Canada later Wednesday.
Graham, accompanied by Kazemi's son, Stephan Hashemi, told reporters: "We were informed by Iran this morning of their intention not to let Canadian observers at the trial. This is completely unacceptable.
"There should be a public trial to see that justice is done."
He recalled that the case involved "the death of a Canadian journalist in Iran," and Canada had the right to see justice being done.
"This is not the case in a secret trial," he said. "We do not accept the position of Iran."
Asked if Canada would take Iran to the International Court of Justice, Graham said: "That is a possibility. But there are problems."
The main problem, he said, was that "all sides must agree" to the court's jurisdiction.
Asked about possible economic sanctions against Iran, he said: "It is time to consider everything. We have to look at what can be effective."
Hashemi interjected: "Economic sanctions can harm the people more than the government."
Earlier, in Tehran, foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said: "Iran does not feel at all obliged to accept the presence of Canadian observers in this trial."
He added: "The case is a domestic issue which is being taken care of by the Islamic Republic of Iran's judiciary, and the government is seriously following the case to see a fair trial and justice done."
Iranian intelligence agent Mohammad Reza Aghdam Ahmadi faces the charge of "semi-intentional murder," a year after Kazemi died from injuries sustained while in the custody of authorities in Tehran.
According to an official report, the 54-year-old photographer was hit on the head by a blunt object -- reportedly a shoe -- while being interrogated. She died in hospital on July 10, 2003 from a brain haemorrhage.
She had been arrested for taking pictures outside Tehran's notorious Evin prison, which at the time was packed with thousands of protesters who took part in last summer's anti-regime protests.