Getting tough on Tehran
National Post
Thursday, July 24, 2003
Cheers to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham for showing the government of Iran that it cannot sweep the death of a Canadian journalist under the carpet. But recalling our ambassador from Tehran is only a first step. Ottawa must ratchet up the pressure until we learn the full truth about the apparent murder of Zahra Kazemi.
Iranian police arrested the Montreal-based photojournalist on June 23 as she was taking photos of the Elvin prison in northern Iran. Ms. Kazemi, who carries both Iranian and Canadian passports, was then interrogated for 77 hours and allegedly beaten into a coma. On July 11, she died. Her death has provoked an uproar in Iran's majlis (Parliament), with reformist politicians using the incident as ammunition in their war against the thuggish theocrats who control the police and courts. A presidential committee report released Monday concluded that, contrary to initial claims of a stroke, Ms. Kazemi died of a fractured skill. But it did not identify her killers.
Ottawa must demand two things: (1) an independent judicial inquiry into Ms. Kazemi's death conducted with the participation of Canadian experts; and (2) the return of Ms. Kazemi's remains to Canada for autopsy and permanent burial. (Iranian authorities yesterday buried the body in the city of Shiraz, apparently as a means to head off further scrutiny. But her Canadian son wants the body back in Canada. According to the Canadian government, so too does her Iranian mother.)
Until Iran delivers on these demands, Canada should sever relations and Iran's diplomatic delegation to this country should be expelled. In this way, Ottawa can help discredit Iran's hardliners and thereby strengthen the cause of reform in that country. More importantly, the moves will demonstrate to Ms. Kazemi's family -- and to all Canadians -- that Ottawa will not let this murderous outrage stand.
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