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Alert

CJFE outraged at Iranian government's decision not to allow Canadian observers at Kazemi trial

(CJFE/IFEX) - The following is a 14 July 2004 CJFE letter to Iran's Ambassador to Canada Seyed Mohammad Ali Mousavi:

July 14, 2004

His Excellency, Dr. Seyed Mohammad Ali Mousavi, Ambassador
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
245 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 2K2
Canada

Excellency,

I am writing on behalf of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect press freedom and freedom of expression around the world.

CJFE is outraged at the decision of the Iranian government not to allow Canadian observers at the trial of the intelligence officer accused of murdering Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi. We also commend the actions of the Canadian government in recalling its ambassador to Iran to protest this decision.

According to Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham, the Iranian government has reneged on a previous agreement to allow three Canadian observers to attend the trial. Canada previously recalled its ambassador after the death of Ms. Kazemi in Tehran in July 2003 and only after it received promises of cooperation in the investigation of her death from the Iranian government did Ambassador Phillip MacKinnon return.

We call on the Iranian government to allow Canadian observers to attend this trial to ensure that the process is transparent and fair. We continue to urge the Iranian government to also allow the return of Zahra Kazemi's body to Canada for burial, as requested by her only son.

I look forward to receiving your prompt reply.

Yours truly,

Arnold Amber, President

C.C.: Mr. Philip MacKinnon, Ambassador, the Canadian Embassy in the Islamic Republic of Iran
The Honourable Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs