TheStar.com - Canada wants Iran to order new Kazemi trial
U.N. rights experts say key evidence ignored
Journalist's son says Pettigrew `has failed me'
MIRO CERNETIG
IN MONTREAL
Iran must begin another trial into the torture and murder of Zahra Kazemi, Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew said yesterday, calling the first attempt to find the 54-year-old journalist's killers an "outrage."
Although he offered no details of what Canada might do to press the Iranian courts, Pettigrew vowed not to let the killing be forgotten.
"Canada has been taking a very strong stand," he said in Montreal, citing the recall of Canada's ambassador, Philip MacKinnon, from Tehran last week.
"We are dead serious about this. We want the truth to come out. We're in for the long run. We will not let go."
An Iranian court on Saturday acquitted a man charged with the July 10, 2003, murder of Kazemi, a Canadian photojournalist who was beaten to death in an Iranian prison.
Lawyers for the family said they would appeal the decision.
In Geneva, U.N. human-rights experts yesterday expressed their "profound" concern about Iranian legal proceedings in the death of Kazemi.
"Many reports indicate that the proceedings did not meet international standards of fair trial because key evidence that might have incriminated judiciary officials, the prosecutor's office as well as the intelligence ministry were ignored by the court," said a U.N. statement.
In Ottawa, Stephan Hachemi, Kazemi's son, told reporters before his meeting with Pettigrew that Canada should expel Iran's ambassador and take the case to the International Court of Justice.
But Hachemi later emerged disappointed from his meeting, saying Pettigrew "didn't specifically commit to any of my suggestions.
"Until I hear his commitment, he has failed me, he has failed my mother and he has failed human rights."
Asked earlier yesterday if Ottawa would expel the Iranian ambassador, Pettigrew said: "We are not there."
Journalist's son says Pettigrew `has failed me'
MIRO CERNETIG
IN MONTREAL
Iran must begin another trial into the torture and murder of Zahra Kazemi, Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew said yesterday, calling the first attempt to find the 54-year-old journalist's killers an "outrage."
Although he offered no details of what Canada might do to press the Iranian courts, Pettigrew vowed not to let the killing be forgotten.
"Canada has been taking a very strong stand," he said in Montreal, citing the recall of Canada's ambassador, Philip MacKinnon, from Tehran last week.
"We are dead serious about this. We want the truth to come out. We're in for the long run. We will not let go."
An Iranian court on Saturday acquitted a man charged with the July 10, 2003, murder of Kazemi, a Canadian photojournalist who was beaten to death in an Iranian prison.
Lawyers for the family said they would appeal the decision.
In Geneva, U.N. human-rights experts yesterday expressed their "profound" concern about Iranian legal proceedings in the death of Kazemi.
"Many reports indicate that the proceedings did not meet international standards of fair trial because key evidence that might have incriminated judiciary officials, the prosecutor's office as well as the intelligence ministry were ignored by the court," said a U.N. statement.
In Ottawa, Stephan Hachemi, Kazemi's son, told reporters before his meeting with Pettigrew that Canada should expel Iran's ambassador and take the case to the International Court of Justice.
But Hachemi later emerged disappointed from his meeting, saying Pettigrew "didn't specifically commit to any of my suggestions.
"Until I hear his commitment, he has failed me, he has failed my mother and he has failed human rights."
Asked earlier yesterday if Ottawa would expel the Iranian ambassador, Pettigrew said: "We are not there."
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