Canada Demands Probe Into Kazemi 'Murder'

The Globe and Mail:

Canada is calling for an international forensic investigation into the torture and death of Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi in Iran, saying it is fed up with "coverups" and "double-speak." The request was aimed at increasing pressure on Iran, which has discounted an account by a doctor who examined her after her arrest in 2003 and said she had been systematically tortured and raped. READ MORE

The toughly worded announcement, which called the Montreal woman's death a murder, came as Iranian President Mohammed Khatami was scheduled to attend a UN conference in Paris.

Prime Minister Paul Martin was expected to announce the move Tuesday in the House of Commons, where he has come under considerable fire over the Kazemi case.

The Liberal government has been hammered for failing to recall its ambassador to Iran even after allegations of unspeakable torture were made last week by Kazemi's exiled Iranian doctor, Shahram Azam.

“We need an independent autopsy which will help determine precisely what happened during her custody,” said Sébastien Théberge, a spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew.

“Dr. Azam's story reinforces our belief that this was a murder, but the Iranian government will not listen to reasonable demands.

“Now the ball is in Iran's court.”

Mr. Pettigrew made the request for an international autopsy in a conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Kamal Kharazi.

Canada was hoping to take its plea directly to Mr. Khatami, the reform-minded President of the Islamic republic who was in Paris on Tuesday.

He was to speak to hundreds of foreign dignitaries at a conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Canada seemed intent on using its message and its envoy to UNESCO – Yvon Charbonneau – to put pressure on Iran.