TEHRAN, 17 July 2003 — Iran announced yesterday that a Canadian photojournalist was beaten to death during or after her arrest outside a Tehran prison last month, reversing its previous claim that she died of a stroke while in custody. Iran also promised to prosecute those responsible for the death of Montreal-based Zahra Kazemi, 54, a Canadian of Iranian descent who died on Friday. But it continued to rebuff Canadian calls for Zahra’s body to be returned to her adoptive country.
“According to a report by the health minister she has died of a brain haemorrhage resulting from beatings,” Vice President Mohammad Ali Abtahi told reporters. “The death of Zahra Kazemi ... creates a very black picture (of Iran) in the world.” Zahra’s death has outraged Canada’s government and cast a spotlight on Iran’s shadowy security services and treatment of the media.
President Mohammad Khatami on Sunday ordered four ministers to investigate Zahra’s death. He also told the intelligence and justice ministries yesterday to probe a recent spate of arrests of journalists and dissident intellectuals.
“Just as we are responsible for the nation’s security and interests, so we are also responsible for the absolute rights of our dear compatriots, particularly the intellectuals,” he said in a letter to the ministers, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Abtahi said it was still not clear whether Zahra’s beating took place during her arrest last month outside Evin prison, where many dissidents are jailed, or during later interrogation.
“As soon as the results of the investigation ... are presented to the Cabinet, we will definitely introduce to the court those who have committed a probable violation ... if a violation is proven,” government spokesman Abdollah Ramazanzadeh told reporters.
Zahra’s death has marred what had been relatively smooth relations between Iran and Canada, where senior officials have demanded the return of her body.
