EU lambasts Iran over murdered photographer trial

 
www.eubusiness.com
19 July 2004

The European Union on Monday said it deplored Iran's handling of the trial of an intelligence agent accused of the killing in custody of an Iranian-Canadian photographer.

"The presidency of the EU expresses its concern that the proceedings in the case against the person accused of causing the death in custody of... Mrs Zahra Kazemi in July 2003 were concluded in a very short time and in a way that does not do justice to the severity of the case," said a statement from the Dutch EU presidency.

"The presidency deplores that EU and other diplomats in Tehran have been refused full access to the court," it added, referring to a move by the Islamic republic's hardline judiciary to bar foreign observers from Sunday's proceedings.

"This situation can only strengthen our concern that justice may not be done in this case and that no light will be shed on the exact circumstances of the gruesome death in custody of Mrs Kazemi," it added.

During Sunday's court session, Canadian ambassador Philip MacKinnon, Dutch ambassador Hein de Vries as well as senior French and British diplomats were bluntly told to stay out.

The judiciary also called an abrupt halt to the hearings after it was accused of charging the wrong man for the murder in order to protect one of its own officials.

Kazemi, a 54-year-old freelance photographer and a dual national, was arrested in June last for taking pictures outside Tehran's notorious Evin prison. She died from a brain haemorrhage July 10, 2003, after being struck by a blunt object while being interrogated.

The Dutch are the current holders of the rotating EU presidency, and are one of the most determined advocates of human rights issues with the 25-member bloc. Their embassy here has a strong human rights component to its work.

Canada's ambassador has been recalled over the incident.