Iran agent to face trial over journalist's killing
( 2003-09-24 09:58) (Agencies)
An Iranian court is to try an
Intelligence Ministry interrogator for the "semi-intentional" murder of a
Canadian journalist in a rare test of the accountability of Iran's powerful
security apparatus.
The death in custody of Zahra Kazemi in July led to a diplomatic dispute
between Iran and Canada and highlighted rivalries between Iranian hard-liner who
control the judiciary and the reformist-controlled Intelligence Ministry.
"The case is going to court now that it has been approved by the Tehran
prosecutor's office," a judiciary official told Reuters Tuesday without giving
further details.
The state-run Iran newspaper said a judge had filed charges against the
Intelligence Ministry interrogator, but had dismissed the case against a second
agent.
Iran's judiciary initially said Kazemi, 54, a Montreal-based photographer of
Iranian descent, died of a stroke after her arrest for taking photographs
outside Tehran's Evin prison.
But a government inquiry revealed she had suffered a brain hemorrhage caused
by a blow to the head. Iranian Vice President Mohammad Ali Abtahi said she was
probably murdered.
Canadian Foreign Minister Bill Graham met Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi
at the United Nations Tuesday and said he had been given assurances that Ottawa
and Kazemi's family would have access to the trial.
"It's clear the Iranian authorities have accepted the fact this innocent
journalist was killed when she was in official custody. That is the position
they have accepted," Graham said.
"We want an open transparent process which will allow us to determine the
ultimate persons responsible."
Moderate President Mohammad Khatami appointed a new head of the Intelligence
Ministry in 1999 and ensured the unprecedented prosecution of a number of "rogue
agents" for killing a string of dissidents.
Nine agents eventually received prison terms, but the ringleader died in jail
after drinking hair-remover in what court officials said was a suicide.
Despite his efforts, Khatami has largely failed to get the upper hand over
powerful conservatives within the state despite a pair of overwhelming election
victories in 1997 and 2001.
The Intelligence Ministry, responsible for internal security and foreign
information gathering, denied one of its staff was behind Kazemi's death and
said it would defend its agent.
"Because of the unjust indictment ... the Intelligence Ministry retains the
right to pursue the case and get the charge against its industrious staff-member
dropped," the Iran newspaper quoted an unnamed official as saying.
Ottawa expressed outrage over the decision to bury Kazemi's body in Iran
instead of handing it over to Canada, where her son has called for its return
and an autopsy to be carried out.
Ottawa recalled its ambassador from Tehran and said it planned to review
relations.
