Seraphim
08-26-2003, 05:16 AM
http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/MSN/2003/08/25/kazemi_charges030825
TEHRAN - Two Iranian intelligence officers have been charged in connection with the death of Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi, the state media reported on Monday.
Charges of "quasi-intentional murder" have been laid against two people who interrogated Kazemi before she was killed by a blow to the head.
The Iranian government hasn't named the two suspects. Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs said it had no confirmation of the arrests.
Kazemi, 54, was arrested in late June while taking photographs for the London-based Camera Press outside of a prison in Tehran. She died on July 11 while in custody.
At first, Iranian officials claimed she had died of a stroke, but pressure from Canada and other countries eventually force them to admit Kazemi was beaten while in custody.
Diplomatic protests from Ottawa, which included recalling the ambassador, have yet to persuade the Iranians to return Kazemi's body to Canada. But an investigation was launched into her death.
Several human rights groups, including Reporters Without Borders, have demanded independent investigations into Kazemi's death.
"I suspect that the Iranian judicial authorities are trying very hard to find somebody who is going to take the hit, the blame," said Hamid Mojtahedi of Reporters Without Borders.
Mansour Farhang, a professor of international relations at Bennington College in Vermont and a former Iranian ambassador to the UN, says the arrests are typical of past cover-ups by the Iranian government.
"When there is pressure, both internal and international, the regime moves to charge a number of low level agents in the Ministry of Information and claim that it was rogue elements," said Farhang.
Iran is expected to submit a report on Kazemi's death to Canadian foreign affairs officials Tuesday.
Written by CBC News Online staff
TEHRAN - Two Iranian intelligence officers have been charged in connection with the death of Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi, the state media reported on Monday.
Charges of "quasi-intentional murder" have been laid against two people who interrogated Kazemi before she was killed by a blow to the head.
The Iranian government hasn't named the two suspects. Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs said it had no confirmation of the arrests.
Kazemi, 54, was arrested in late June while taking photographs for the London-based Camera Press outside of a prison in Tehran. She died on July 11 while in custody.
At first, Iranian officials claimed she had died of a stroke, but pressure from Canada and other countries eventually force them to admit Kazemi was beaten while in custody.
Diplomatic protests from Ottawa, which included recalling the ambassador, have yet to persuade the Iranians to return Kazemi's body to Canada. But an investigation was launched into her death.
Several human rights groups, including Reporters Without Borders, have demanded independent investigations into Kazemi's death.
"I suspect that the Iranian judicial authorities are trying very hard to find somebody who is going to take the hit, the blame," said Hamid Mojtahedi of Reporters Without Borders.
Mansour Farhang, a professor of international relations at Bennington College in Vermont and a former Iranian ambassador to the UN, says the arrests are typical of past cover-ups by the Iranian government.
"When there is pressure, both internal and international, the regime moves to charge a number of low level agents in the Ministry of Information and claim that it was rogue elements," said Farhang.
Iran is expected to submit a report on Kazemi's death to Canadian foreign affairs officials Tuesday.
Written by CBC News Online staff