16 July 2003

Alert

CPJ calls for independent investigation into journalist's death in Iranian hospital


Incident details

Zahra Kazemi

journalist(s)

killed
(CPJ/IFEX) - In a 14 July 2003 letter to President Muhammad Khatami, CPJ noted its alarm over the death of Canadian-Iranian free-lance photographer Zahra Kazemi. Although President Khatami ordered several government ministries to officially investigate her death, CPJ demanded that an immediate, independent inquiry be conducted - including an autopsy - and that the results be made public.

According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA, Kazemi, 54, died on 11 July, at Baghiatollah Hospital in Iran's capital, Tehran, where she had been transferred after being held in government custody.

Mohammad Hoseyn Khoshvaqt, director general of the Foreign Press and Media Department at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, told IRNA that Iranian authorities detained Kazemi, a contributor to Montreal-based magazine "Recto Verso" and London-based photo agency Camera Press, in late June outside Tehran's Evin Prison while she was taking photos at the facility.

According to IRNA, Khoshvaqt said that Kazemi died of a "brain stroke." He said that the journalist, who had received permission from the ministry to work in Iran as a representative of Camera Press, had complained of poor health while she was detained and was taken to the hospital.

Kazemi's family and friends have questioned the government's account and have alleged that the journalist died as a result of mistreatment while in government custody.

Reynald Dioron, a spokesman for Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, told CPJ last week that Kazemi had suffered some kind of brain hemorrhage. Canadian embassy officials in Tehran visited the journalist at the hospital on 10 July. The officials, who received a report on her condition but could not release any details, reported that she appeared to be in a coma at the time of their visit, said Dioron.

While the circumstances surrounding Kazemi's arrest and her untimely death are unclear, she died after being in government custody, CPJ stated. The organisation noted that President Khatami has rightly pointed out the Iranian government should find out who is responsible for this extremely disturbing development.



Source:

Committee to Protect Journalists
330 7th Ave., 11th Floor
New York, NY 10001
USA
info (@) cpj.org
Phone: +1 212 465 1004
Fax: +1 212 465 9568
 

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

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