Posted on 05/17/2005 6:20:20 PM PDT by nuconvert
Canada freezes most Iran ties over woman's death
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
OTTAWA, May 17 (Reuters) - Canada froze most bilateral ties with Iran on Tuesday in protest against what it said was Tehran's refusal to properly investigate the death of a Canadian photographer.
Zahra Kazemi died in July 2003 after she was arrested for taking photographs outside Tehran's Evin prison. Iran initially said she had been hit on the head during questioning but now says her death was an accident and has dismissed Ottawa's demands that her body be returned to Canada.
"Effective immediately ... we will limit our encounters with Iranian officials to the Kazemi case, Iran's human rights record and Iran's nuclear nonproliferation performance," said Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew.
"Any existing programs of cooperation between Canadian government agencies and their Iranian counterparts will be halted," he told Parliament's foreign affairs committee.
In addition, Ottawa will ban visits by Iranian officials to Canada and will only allow its diplomats to engage with Iran on the Kazemi case, human rights and proliferation issues.
"This state of relations will persist until Iran has taken steps to launch a credible and independent investigation and judicial process into the Kazemi case," Pettigrew said.
Canada has twice withdrawn its ambassador to Iran over the case but the envoy will stay in Tehran for the time being.
Last year the Iranian judiciary acquitted an intelligence agent charged with Kazemi's murder and said she died after fainting and hitting her head on the floor.
An Iranian who defected to Canada has since said Kazemi was tortured and possibly raped before her death.
pong
Yeah, that will make Iran think twice!
""Canada froze most bilateral ties with Iran on Tuesday in protest against what it said was Tehran's refusal to properly investigate the death of a Canadian photographer.""
What did Canada expect? And when are they going to collapse already?
Duh...and how long has she been dead?
Someone in Canada government standing up for someone?
Who the hell goes to Canada, besides the Dumbocrats, anyway -- who wants to?
Look at the bright side. Perhaps some people north of the border might have had their eyes opened. Perhaps!
"and how long has she been dead?"
Almost 2 yrs.
"And when are they going to collapse already?"
Soon. This last ditch effort is to try to save face and win support.
Not too obvious...........
Freedom of the press is not universal. There are many freedoms that are not universal.
Some put their highest priority on establishing institutionalized same sex marriage which NO society has had.
Human rights are something only for "those who are ready for them" it seems. < /sarcasm >
"Would it help if we ran away further?"-Brave Sir Robin
Wait, this cannot possibly be true - Canada has developed a brain cell? No, must be some imposter, certainly not a Canadian citizen, making these assertions.
All in a little less than two years!The Canucks are rocketing along! And I'm sure their paperclip rattling will scare the bejes*s out of the Mullahs, eh?
Probably disemboweled and few more atrocities made upon her body. . .
Amazing that Canada is responding with such measures for 'one victim'. Perhaps they can be more empathetic towards America for our losing thousands.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.