Diplomatic row between Canada and Iran grows
Last Updated: Friday, June 23, 2006 | 10:01 PM ET
CBC News
Iran is fighting back against accusations from Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay and calls from the Canadian government for the arrest of an Iranian official implicated in the murder of photojournalist Zahra Kazemi.
Iranian Prosecutor General Saeed Mortazavi was in Geneva as part of Iran's delegation to the UN Human Rights Council.
In 2003, Mortazavi ordered the detention and interrogation of Zahra Kazemi, a photojournalist with dual Canadian-Iranian citizenship. She was tortured and later died of her injuries.
Zahra Kazemi held dual Canadian-Iranian citizenship.
(CBC)
Canada wants Mortazavi arrested and tried for his involvement.
But in an interview with CBC News, Iranian Justice Minister Jamal Karimirad dismissed Canada's claims, calling them "highly regrettable, a violation of international protocols."
According to Karimirad, allegations that Mortazavi had any involvement in the death of Kazemi are unfounded.
"The allegations are fabrications," he said, "baseless lies."
"The fact Canada's foreign minister was repeating them," he added, "was libelous."
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay remains unapologetic for those words, as well as remarks he made earlier this week, saying "the presence of Mr. Mortazavi in Iran's delegation demonstrates the government of Iran's complete contempt for internationally recognized principles of human rights."
MacKay says if the Iranian justice minister is offended by any of his remarks, then he is free to come to Canada and seek redress.
"Take me to court. Come to Canada and face it in the justice system, if that's what he believes. I don't put a lot of faith in what the Iranian justice minister has to say, frankly."
The allegations against Mortazavi didn't originate in Canada, but in Iran's former reformist parliament.
Those same reformers have borne the brunt of Mortazavi's wrath. He's banned hundreds of newspapers and jailed scores of editors, writers and academics. Among those being detained is another Canadian who holds dual citizenship, Rahim Jahanbigloo.
For more than two months, the former Harvard and University of Toronto professor has been held in Tehran's Evin prison.
According to human rights groups, he's being held in solitary confinement, without access to a lawyer and without being charged.
But Karimirad says that is not true, and that Jahanbigloo can have a lawyer anytime he wants and he knows exactly what the charges are.
But when pressed for specifics, Karimirad refused to say what the charges are, in deference to Jahanbigloo's privacy, he said.
Tough stance needed
MacKay says a tough stance from Ottawa is needed because diplomatic efforts seem to have no effect.
MacKay admits it is unlikely Canada will be able to convince another country to arrest Mortazavi in the foreseeable future. But he says Mortazavi should consider himself on notice that Canada will do what it can to bring him to justice.
The Iranians left Geneva on Friday, demonstrating that the world's opinion doesn't really matter much to them.
Iran's government may be assuming the storm has passed, but not if Zahra Kazemi's family has anything to do with it.
CBC News has learned that her son intends to file a civil suit in Canada holding Mortazavi and others personally responsible for Kazemi's torture and her death.
