By: Ali Akbar Dareini, Associated Press Writer (AP) Iran's reformist-dominated parliament on Tuesday implicated hard-line Tehran prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi in the death of an Iranian-Canadian photojournalist who died in custody in July.
Zahra Kazemi, a Canadian of Iranian origin, died July 10, about three weeks after being detained for taking photographs outside a Tehran prison during protests. An intelligence agent is charged with her alleged beating death.
The parliament criticized Mortazavi for accusing Kazemi of spying for foreign intelligence agencies, lacking official permission to work and announcing the cause of her death as stroke. A presidential-appointed committee later concluded she died of head injuries sustained while in custody.
"The detention of Kazemi ... was not justified ... and against legal procedures," the parliament said in its report on the murder, read out in an open session and broadcast live on state-run Tehran radio.
The parliament condemned Mortazavi for failing to respond to several questions justifying Kazemi's detention and refusing to attend parliamentary sessions to offer explanations.
The parliamentary report is expected to further complicate the investigation into Kazemi's death and affect the course of the ongoing trial of an Intelligence Ministry agent.
The report also paves the way for the questioning and even possible trial of Mortazavi over the murder.
Intelligence Ministry agent Mohammad Reza Aghdam Ahmadi pleaded not guilty of Kazemi's murder on the first day of his open trial earlier this month.
Intelligence Ministry officials have denied their agents were responsible, claiming a judicial official assaulted Kazemi.
Canada has complained to Iran over the handling of Kazemi's case. It threatened sanctions and withdrew its ambassador after Kazemi's body was buried in Iran against the wishes of her son, who lives in Montreal, and Canadian authorities.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here