Canadian Journalist Murdered by Irani Security Services

[Eli]

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/07/12/kazemi030712

MONTREAL - Montreal photojournalist Zahra Kazemi has died in Iran, a Foreign Affairs official confirmed Saturday.

She had suffered a beating that sent her into a coma after being arrested on June 23 in Tehran, according to her son, 26-year-old Stephan Hachemi of Montreal.

Hachemi said his mother was taken into custody and accused of spying after taking pictures of a prison in the Iranian capital.

On Friday, hospital officials in Iran said she had suffered a brain hemorrhage and was in a coma. Hachemi said he learned of his mother's death Saturday morning.

Kazemi was born in Iran and moved to Montreal 10 years ago after living for several years in France. Her son said his mother has joint Canadian and Iranian citizenship.

Arnold Amber of the group Canadian Journalists for Free Expression called Kazemi's death "a horror." He said the arrest and torture of journalists in Iran has been going on for "a long, long time."



Written by CBC News Online staff

[Eli]

I will avoid the obvious comparison for the next couple hours.

Bump.

[KrazyHorse]

I was writing a really angry response, but I'll satisfy myself with a "screw you".

[DinoDoc]

That's very big of you, KH. I'm not sure I could do the same in your shoes.

[Pekka]

I don't get it?

[GePap]

Protests should be made by the Canadian gov.

But no Eli, the US won;t invade Iran.

[Az]

God I hope the evil government there is overthrown. The students are the best hope right now.

[Wezil]

Our gov will probably send a trade mission or some such crap. Human rights aren't a priority.

[notyoueither]

I wonder what the Canadian government can do (assuming there was anything we could do) because not only was she in Iran, but she was a citizen of said country. We can protest for them killing one of their own citizens?

It doesn't sound like an intentional killing. Very unfortunate consequences of an interrogation.

[Az]

She was an Iranian citizen? Not much then, I guess.

[notyoueither]

Article says duel citizenship.

Addit: Some countries ignore any citizenship other than their own. I believe the US does something like that.

[Az]

In cases of dual citizenship, it's only logical.

That doesn't mean that what they did was right, of course.

[notyoueither]

No, beating suspected spies is not good. How many countries would prohibit it though?

[Sirotnikov]

It doesn't sound like an intentional killing. Very unfortunate consequences of an interrogation.

Erm... I wonder would that response be the same if a western country like the US or Israel would have been responsible for the death by interrogation accident...

[Az]

The problem is, that they suspect everyone of being spies. It's ****ing rediculous. Jews there are put into prison, for ANY contact with Israel.