Statement by Minister MacKay on the Death of Zahra Kazemi

News Release

July 10, 2006
No. 76
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency, today made the following statement to mark the sad
anniversary of the murder of Zahra Kazemi three years ago:
“The Government of Canada offers its sincere condolences to the family of Zahra
Kazemi on this sad day, the third anniversary of her death. Canada continues to
demand that Iran bring those responsible for this murder to justice.
“The culture of impunity that prevails in Iran runs counter to the Iranian constitution and
the international obligations that Iran has voluntarily assumed. Iran has a duty to
conduct a transparent process that will punish those responsible for this murder. From
this perspective, and as a reminder of our interest in the Kazemi case, we condemn
Mr. Mortazavi’s presence at the UN Human Rights Council last month.
“Moreover, we continue to call on Iran to comply with the request by Ms. Kazemi’s
family to authorize the exhumation and repatriation of her body, so she can be buried
here in Canada near her son Stephan.
“Further, Canada is still concerned over the detention of Professor Ramin Jahanbegloo,
and we call on Iran to release him immediately. Professor Jahanbegloo has been held
since late April without charge, which runs counter to the Iranian constitution and the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is party.”
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca

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Statement by Minister MacKay on the Death of Zahra Kazemi

News Release

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