Female Canadian journalist beaten and killed by Iranian police.

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Saturday, July 12, 2003

OTTAWA – Canadian authorities confirmed Saturday that a Quebec woman reportedly arrested and beaten into a coma in Iran has died.

Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Lillian Thomsen said the government of Iran has officially announced that Zahra Kazemi, a Canadian photojournalist of Iranian origin, is dead.

Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham spoke to the son of Kazemi on Saturday morning to "express his deep sorrow and regret’’ and offered the continued support of the Canadian government, she added.

"The minister has instructed the Canadian ambassador to meet with the Iranian foreign minister at the earliest possible time in order to obtain the co-operation of the Iranian authorities, and to reiterate our earlier request for an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the detention of Mrs. Kazemi and her injuries,‘’ Thomsen said.

At the request of her family, Canadian officials in Iran are helping to make the arrangements for Kazemi’s remains to be transported to Canada.

They visited Kazemi, 54, of Montreal several times since she was apparently arrested after taking photos outside a prison in Tehran on or about June 23. She was then allegedly branded a spy and beaten into unconsciousness by police interrogators. One report said she had suffered from a brain hemorrhage.

Friends who visited her in hospital Tuesday said she was unconscious, with severe cuts and bruises on her face and head. They said she has been given a 50-50 chance of survival.

Kazemi’s son Stephan Hachemi, who lives in Montreal, said she went to Iraq after the U.S.-led war there was over. After being in Iraq for 1{ months, she travelled to Iran, he said.

Kazemi called her mother in the town of Shiraz in southern Iran to say she had been detained in Tehran, said Hachemi. "She was beaten up and went into a coma two weeks ago, after the phone call.‘’

Kazemi’s mother told Canadian Embassy officials in Tehran about her daughter’s situation.

http://canada.com/national/story.asp?id=B6C0912B-3BB3-46F0-B540-D0491BB069A9

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Re: Female Canadian journalist beaten and killed by Iranian police.

[QUOTE]
Originally posted by underthedome: *
*....she was apparently arrested after taking photos outside a prison in Tehran on or about June 23. She was then allegedly branded a spy and beaten into unconsciousness by police interrogators. One report said she had suffered from a brain hemorrhage. **
[/QUOTE]

Sick and extremely sad.

The Cdn government should definitely not back down and strongly press this case with Iran's foreign minister... i hope our govt. takes a stronger line on this than the British govt. has taken over British citizens mistreated at Guantanamo.

Apparently, arrangements are being made to bring her body back to Canada where an official autopsy is planned as soon as possible.

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I am outraged at this. The fundo iranian rulers need to go. Their time is up. They have failed and proven that fundo's like them and Osama are not the answer we Muslims seek.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by xguru: *
I am outraged at this. The fundo iranian rulers need to go. Their time is up. They have failed and proven that fundo's like them and Osama are not the answer we Muslims seek.
[/QUOTE]

agreed a t the first sentence

5

Sad indeed... Disgusting action by the Iranis...

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *
Sad indeed... Disgusting action by the Iranis...
[/QUOTE]

i think they [the irani police] took the money after they killed the women

7

Sick indeed. But she should'nt of been there. She went looking for trouble and she got her order.

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get a rope

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by hskhan: *
Sick indeed. But she should'nt of been there. She went looking for trouble and she got her order.
[/QUOTE]

she had permission from the government to take pictures of the iranian jail

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[QUOTE]
Originally posted by hskhan: *
**She went looking for trouble and she got her order.
[/QUOTE]
*

But with all due respect, taking pictures of a prison isn't necessarily "looking for trouble", is it... Maybe she was preparing a report on the state of prisoners/prison facilities in Iran or maybe she wanted to do an article regarding prisoners' rights.

Even if she was spying on Iran (as i THINK the govt. has claimed) - that doesn't justify (allegedly) beating her into a coma. i mean, she's a journalist - any government, whether it's Israel or Iran, should allow a journalist to do her/his work. If there is nothing wrong to hide, then it should not be necessary to go to such measures to silence certain individuals.

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[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Nadia_H: *
*

But with all due respect, taking pictures of a prison isn't necessarily "looking for trouble", is it... Maybe she was preparing a report on the state of prisoners/prison facilities in Iran or maybe she wanted to do an article regarding prisoners' rights.

Even if she was spying on Iran (as i THINK the govt. has claimed) - that doesn't justify (allegedly) beating her into a coma. i mean, she's a journalist - any government, whether it's Israel or Iran, should allow a journalist to do her/his work. If there is nothing wrong to hide, then it should not be necessary to go to such measures to silence certain individuals.
[/QUOTE]

She was taking the pictures of the jail where the irani student protesters were held

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[QUOTE]
Originally posted by hurtler: *
**She was taking the pictures of the jail where the irani student protesters were held
[/QUOTE]
*

:) i see... Thank you for clearing that up for me.

i see nothing wrong in taking pictures of the jail where student protestors were being held - maybe she wanted to do a study regarding how they were being treated in their prisons. Again - this should be commended, not silenced.

If Iran wants to be a truly Islamic state, this type of ridiculous behaviour towards journalists has no place. She should be allowed to take pictures of anything (as long as it's not a military site etc.).

Like i always state - if there's nothing wrong to hide, then there would be no need to go to such measures to silence someone.

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Just for the record, the beating by the police has nothing to to with the so called 'fundo's, Islam and Osama'.

There are many a police force in the world that operate this type of 'beat first and ask questions later' interogation system. From East to West.

It's a predominantly cultural thing and not solely religious.

Secondly, it was only a matter of time that a foreigner would undergo this treatment and the authorities would fall foul. Unfortunately we never hear of the locals that get this type of beating.

Either way, it's now time for answers!

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Nadia_H: *
But with all due respect, taking pictures of a prison isn't necessarily "looking for trouble", is it... Maybe she was preparing a report on the state of prisoners/prison facilities in Iran or maybe she wanted to do an article regarding prisoners' rights.

[/QUOTE]

Nothing wrong with taking photos. But she visited Iran to create controversy.

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Who’s actions do you find Controversial, Iran’s or the journalists?

…
Montreal photojournalist Zahra Kazemi **dedicated herself to documenting the living conditions in war-torn areas and exposing injustices against women and children. **
Her life ended shortly after her arrest in Tehran last month while covering one of those stories she was most passionate about.

Iranian authorities detained Kazemi on or about June 23 as she was taking pictures of the notorious Evin prison in northern Tehran, where many political dissidents are locked up.

http://www.canada.com/montreal/news/story.asp?id=D33DECB8-367E-461B-BE90-19CC6113CEC1

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by hskhan: *
But she visited Iran to create controversy.
[/QUOTE]

and thus its a-okay if she was killed?
plato-socrates- aristotle-hskhan all in the same great category

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prolly the next rulers of iran, ofcourse supported by US of A :~)

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You clearly misunderstood me. Her murder was indeed sad. BUT she knew the possible consequences.

If you visited North Korea and started photographing attrocities against humanity - I would't be surprised if you either turned up dead, or a different person mentally and physically.

Her case was no different.

Mr. Fraudia thanks for thinking so highly of me.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by hskhan: *
You clearly misunderstood me. Her murder was indeed sad. BUT she knew the possible consequences.

If you visited North Korea and started photographing attrocities against humanity - I would't be surprised if you either turned up dead, or a different person mentally and physically.

Her case was no different.

Mr. Fraudia thanks for thinking so highly of me.
[/QUOTE]

she didn't know the consequences because the government didn't tell here

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by hskhan: *
You clearly misunderstood me. Her murder was indeed sad. BUT she knew the possible consequences..
[/QUOTE]

There are tons of possible consequences around as all the times..but when some of this stuff happens it does not make the action right, or the perps right, and is still a tragic incident.