Iranian Official Visited Canada After Kazemi Row

CBS, myTELUS:

CBC Radio has learned that while publicly denouncing the killing of Zahra Kazemi in July 2003, Canadian officials quietly allowed an Iranian government official to visit Canada. E-mails obtained under the Access to Information Act show that Customs officials were concerned about the visit becoming public. One e-mail said: "We should keep this as low-key as possible."

Iran had requested that one of their officials, Seyed Abu Talib Najafi, be briefed on the workings of Canada's new Advance Passenger Information database, designed to identify potential threats to civil aircraft before they board. READ MORE

Two e-mails within Canada Customs suggested there were concerns: "What's our position about the requesting country?"..."in view of the current situation with Iran."

This was because the Department of Foreign Affairs had, eight days ago, recalled Canada's ambassador in Iran because it had refused Canadian inquiries about the Zahra Kazemi case. Kazemi, a Montreal-based photojournalist was beaten to death after being arrested after photographing a Tehran prison riot. Iran maintains her death was accidental.

Foreign Affairs told Customs officials it's only concern was "whether he (Najafi) will be able to get his visa in time."

In dozens of e-mails, there is no mention of Zahra Kazemi, and no one questions why Canada would help a Iran, considered by some to be a brutal police state. As well, no one asked why a government with a known track record of sponsoring terrorist attacks might want such information.

With just days to go before the visit, a flurry of e-mails revealed last-minute concerns about Najafi's identity. Canada believed his first name was Nasser. Only after he landed in Canada did they learn it was Seyed Abu Talib Najafi.

Chrystiane Roy, Iran desk officer at Foreign Affairs, informed Customs that if Najafi already had a visa, "it would be too late to do any screening." That e-mail was sent after Najafi was already en route to Canada.

In the end, it was only the great North American blackout of August 14, 2003, that prevented the briefing session.

Instead, Rachelle May, now acting director general of the Canada Border Services Agency took him across the street for a coffee. In a report sent afterwards to Foreign Affairs, she writes "he showed interest in Advanced Passenger Information."

She adds. "He was pleased that I took the time to meet him."