IRAN: Four years after journalist Zahra Kazemi's death, her lawyers expect
a new trial
IRAN: Les avocats de la journaliste Zahra Kazemi attendent une réouverture
du procès quatre ans après son assassinat
IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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UPDATE - IRAN
11 July 2007
Four years after journalist Zahra Kazemi's death, her lawyers expect a new
trial
SOURCE: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Paris
**Updates IFEX alerts of 11 July 2006, 21 November, 26 May, 13 and 1 April
and 11 February 2005, and others**
(RSF/IFEX) - On 10 July 2007, Reporters Without Borders said it hoped
Iran's supreme court will rule in favour of a new investigation into the
death of Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi from a beating while in
custody four years ago. After hearing an appeal from the Kazemi family's
lawyers on 2 July about the irregularities in an appeal court's verdict,
the supreme court is supposed to issue a decision this week.
The press freedom organisation has written to the Canadian authorities
urging them to continue to condemn the denial of justice in this case.
"We see this appeal as the last hope for shedding light on the
circumstances of Kazemi's murder," the press freedom organisation said. "We
support her lawyer's request for a new investigation to be conducted in an
independent and impartial manner, covering all that took place from the
time of her arrest until her death."
Reporters Without Borders added: "The case has been hampered by many
obstacles, including the apparent implication of senior officials. The
participation of international experts would help to resolve some of these
difficulties and to put an end to a situation of impunity that has gone on
for too long."
The Kazemi family's lawyers sought to demonstrate the "intentional" nature
of Kazemi's death in the 2 July hearing before the supreme court's 15th
chamber. If the court accepts their argument, it should order a new
investigation.
Kazemi, 54, was arrested on 23 June 2003 while taking photos of the
relatives of detainees outside Evin prison, in north Tehran. She died on 10
July 2003 from cerebral bleeding that was the result of blows to the head
received while in detention.
The prison authorities initially claimed that her death was the result of
an accidental fall. After they subsequently acknowledged that she was
beaten during interrogation, prosecutors named Reza Aghdam Ahmadi, an
intelligence official, as the personal responsible for her death. A court
acquitted Ahmadi in July 2004 and his acquittal was confirmed in November
2005 by an appeal court, which said the investigation should be reopened.
For further information contact Hajar Smouni, RSF, 5, rue Geoffroy Marie,
Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51,
e-mail: moyen-orient@rsf.org, Internet: http://www.rsf.org
The information contained in this update is the sole responsibility of RSF.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit RSF.