[FREE IRAN Project] In The Spirit Of Cyrus The Great

[Rasker]

freeandseculariran

-----Original Message-----
From: min.dfaitmaeci@international.gc.ca
[mailto:min.dfaitmaeci@international.gc.ca]
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 7:13 AM
To: sos_raha@yahoo.ca
Subject: A11739-2005 IN REPLY TO YOUR E-MAIL OF APRIL 4, 2005


Dr. Raha
sos_raha@yahoo.ca


Dear Dr. Raha:

Thank you for your e-mail of April 4, 2005, concerning the brutal
killing of Ms. Zahra Kazemi in Iranian custody. I regret the delay in
replying to you.

Canadians were deeply shocked and saddened by Ms. Kazemi's treatment in
custody and death. I fully acknowledge and share your frustration,
anger, and grief.

We know that many Iranian citizens also share our concerns about these
events. Iranian commissions struck by President Mohammed Khatami and by
the Majlis (Iranian parliament) have in turn cast doubt on Iran's
official account that Ms. Kazemi died through an accidental fall. The
new revelations of Dr. Shahram Aazam, the first physician to examine
Zahra Kazemi, have added disturbing detail about the condition of Ms.
Kazemi after her interrogation. The circumstances are simply
unacceptable. Iran must fully investigate, and bring those responsible
to justice. The Government of Canada has forcefully and repeatedly
raised the issue with the Government of Iran and will continue to pursue
the Iranian government to ensure that those responsible for the death of
Ms. Kazemi are brought to justice, and that Ms. Kazemi's body is
returned to Canada in accordance with the wishes of her family. The
July 30, 2005 arrest by Iranian authorities of Abdolfattah Soltani, the
lawyer representing the Kazemi family, is also cause for concern.

Canadians should know the extent of our actions. The following
represents some highlights:

*Canada has repeatedly and consistently, to the highest levels, raised
the Kazemi case with Iranian authorities. We have made clear our
indignation and our demands for justice. *I have asked Iranian Foreign
Minister Kamal Kharrazi to pursue an independent three-person forensic
investigation into the death of Ms. Kazemi. Ultimately, a credible
investigation is the only way that the disturbing questions about this
case can be answered. Iran has rejected this proposal. *Canada has
twice withdrawn its ambassador to Iran as a strong diplomatic signal of
protest. We have returned an ambassador to Tehran, this being the only
way to directly engage Iranian authorities on the Kazemi case and other
issues of great consequence to Canadians, such as Iran's nuclear
program. *Canada has pursued the Kazemi case in dialogue with other
governments, the European Union, and United Nations bodies, and sought
their support in this case as an example of the serious human rights
violations that persist in Iran. We appreciate greatly the active
assistance they have offered, and we continue to liaise with our
like-minded partners to discuss developments and strategy.

*We have remained in continual telephone contact with Mr. Stephan Hachemi, the son of Ms. Kazemi, to share details of developments. Canadian governmentlawyers have also engaged in a constructive, cordial and common-cause effort with Mr. Hachemi's lawyers to look at every legal avenue available. These discussions are being pursued on an intensified basis.
*We have met on numerous occasions with the Kazemi family's lawyer,
Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi, to discuss available avenues under Iranian
law. We are continuing our dialogue with this exemplary human rights
defender. *We have assisted in bringing Dr. Aazam to Canada as a
refugee, and have respected his need for confidentiality and safe haven.
Information provided by Dr. Aazam will contribute to our ongoing efforts
to achieve justice for Ms. Kazemi and her family. Additionally, Canada
has placed further restrictions on bilateral engagement with Iran as a
strong sign of our outrage following the inconclusive appeal of May 16,
2005. We will engage with Iranians only on the Kazemi case, human
rights, and the nuclear non-proliferation question. We will end all
programs of cooperation with the Iranian government.

The death of Ms. Kazemi has highlighted for Canadians the serious
problems that exist with Iran's broader human rights record,
particularly in areas such as freedom of expression, treatment of
prisoners, and the independence of the judiciary. Canada has been
active in reminding Iran of its international human rights obligations.
We have led on two successful United Nations General Assembly
resolutions pointing out the serious shortcomings of Iran's human rights
performance. Moreover, at the opening of the 2005 United Nations
Commission on Human Rights, I personally singled out Iran, saying that
it must show its willingness to address its appalling human rights
record.

Since 1996, Canadian political relations with Iran have been governed by
a policy of controlled engagement. We place limits on our contacts with
Iran: for instance, Iran is not able to open consulates in Canada, there
are no direct air links, and export controls are applied on any
sensitive goods. This policy is established to reflect our concerns
about Iranian government opposition to the Middle East peace process,
its support of terrorism, its record on nuclear questions and its human
rights record.

Some have suggested that Canada impose economic sanctions, such as trade or investment sanctions, in response to Ms. Kazemi's death. Experience has shown that economic measures such as these do not have the desiredeffect of compelling a change in another state's behaviour if
they are imposed unilaterally. The Canadian legislative framework
recognizes this. It allows for unilateral sanctions against a foreign
state only in exceptional situations such as where there is a grave
breach of international peace and security resulting in a serious
international crisis.

I can assure you that I will continue to raise both Iran's record on
human rights and the specifics of the Kazemi case with my counterparts
at every opportunity. Iran must respond and fulfill its obligations as
a member of the international community.

Thank you again for taking the time to write with your concerns.

Sincerely,





Pierre S. Pettigrew
_________________
The Sun Is Rising In The West!Soon It Will Shine on All of Iran!