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EU to Call for Probe in Canadian's Death

 
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2003 11:20 am    Post subject: EU to Call for Probe in Canadian's Death Reply with quote


EU to Call for Probe in Canadian's Death

October 12, 2003
Reuters
Sebastian Alison

European Union foreign ministers are set to ask on Monday for an investigation into the role of the Tehran prosecutor's office in the death of a Canadian journalist, a draft EU document seen by Reuters shows.

Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, agreed to represent in Iran's courts the family of photojournalist Zahra Kazemi, a Canadian citizen of Iranian descent killed in custody in Tehran in June.

The draft document, which diplomats said would likely be approved by EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, notes some arrests have been made in the case, but says:

"The Council adds its voice to those within Iran who are calling for a fully empowered, independent and impartial investigation into all aspects of the case, including the role of the office of the Chief Prosecutor for Tehran."

An Iranian intelligence official, Reza Ahmedi, is on trial for the murder of Kazemi, who died of a blow to the head after being arrested outside Tehran's notorious Evin prison.

He has rejected the charges and the reformist-controlled Intelligence Ministry has also strongly denied any of its officials were involved, saying the charges brought by the conservative judiciary were politically motivated.

Iran's state-run Human Rights Commission has said the office of Tehran Chief Prosecutor Saeed Mortezavi arrested Kazemi, then later handed her over to Intelligence Ministry officials.

The EU last week concluded two days of talks on human rights with Iranian officials.

But if, as seems likely, EU foreign ministers on Monday approve the draft document directly naming Mortazavi, they will be making a more personal allegation than they have so far.

The ministers will also discuss reconstruction aid to Iraq, at the beginning of a week when they will meet twice. After the Luxembourg talks on Monday, they reassemble in Brussels on Thursday for a meeting of the Council, when EU heads of government hold a formal session.

The European Commission, the bloc's executive, has said it will propose a donation of 200 million euros from the community budget for the 14 months from November 2003 to the end of 2004, when a major donor's conference opens in Madrid on October 23.

While foreign ministers are expected to agree this relatively modest sum, Monday's meeting could be an opportunity for individual member states to announce the size of donations that they make in addition to this.

But EU diplomats say France and Germany, implacable opponents of the U.S.-led war to oust President Saddam Hussein, are unlikely to offer much more, while Britain, Washington's staunchest ally during the war and after, may come up with a more substantial figure.
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