16 July 2003

Alert

CJFE calls for independent investigation into journalist's death, despite government's admission that she died after being beaten


Incident details

Zahra Kazemi

journalist(s)

killed
(CJFE/IFEX) - The following is a CJFE press release:

Iran's Admission Not Enough: CJFE

July 16, 2003 -- Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) said today that despite the latest admissions by the Government of Iran, it remains necessary to hold an independent investigation into the killing of Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi.

"Iranian authorities at first said Ms. Kazemi had suffered a stroke while in custody," CJFE Executive Director Joel Ruimy said. "Now they admit she died after being beaten. This piecemeal process is unacceptable. What else are they concealing from the world?

"The Iranian government must allow the return of her body to Canada, in accordance with the wishes of her son, so that an independent autopsy can be conducted to establish the full truth about what happened to the journalist."

Zahra Kazemi, a 54-year-old Canadian citizen originally from Iran, was arrested on or about June 23 by Iranian security officers as she took photos of a prison in Tehran where protesters had been incarcerated following recent student protests. She lapsed into a coma sometime afterwards and was reported dead last Friday.

Today, Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Ali Abtahi said: "According to a report by the health minister she has died of a brain hemorrhage resulting from beatings."

Also today, a report by the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) said that "anyone deemed responsible ... would be brought to justice." CJFE welcomes this commitment and will monitor whether Iran keeps its promise. But the same report also quoted government spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh as saying that "since [Ms. Kazemi] is an Iranian, no country has the right to seek the transfer of her body."

"Everyone who values press freedom must demand that Iran act in good faith and let the truth about this savage crime emerge," Ruimy said. "We especially call on the Canadian government to forcefully press Iran to allow the return of Ms. Kazemi's body to this country."

CJFE is an association of 400 journalists, editors, publishers, producers, students and others working to preserve and promote press freedom and free expression in Canada and around the world.



Source:

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
PO Box 407
555 Richmond St. W., Suite 1101
Toronto, ON M5V 3B1
Canada
cjfe @ cjfe.org
Phone: +1 416 515 9622
Fax: +1 416 515 7879
 

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More on this case

Seven years after Zahra Kazemi’s death in detention, impunity continues 13 July 2010 Quebec court to hear Kazemi family case against Iranian government 8 December 2009 Five years after unexplained death of journalist, new inquiry lacks independence 15 July 2008 RSF voices concern over stalled justice in Zahra Kazemi case 20 January 2004 Parliamentary commission's report identifies Tehran chief prosecutor as directly involved in subjecting journalist Kazemi to violent interrogations, attempting to cover up cause of her death 5 November 2003 Court says only one person responsible in Kazemi case 26 September 2003 Authorities' vagueness and infighting obstruct Kazemi murder probe 27 August 2003 Agents accused in journalist's death 26 August 2003 EU foreign ministers urged to put pressure on Iran over murder of journalist Zahra Kazemi 15 August 2003 RSF says official inquiry into photojournalist's death unsatisfactory, another journalist arrested 22 July 2003 Government offers conflicting explanations of photojournalist's death, more journalists detained 17 July 2003 CPJ calls for independent investigation into journalist's death in Iranian hospital 16 July 2003 Photojournalist dies in Tehran 14 July 2003 Journalist declared brain-dead following injuries sustained while in police custody 11 July 2003 Canadian journalist in a coma after attack 10 July 2003

Iran

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