Tehran, 17 May (AKI) - An agent from the Iranian security services is believed to have been arrested by the judicial police in Tehran in connection with the death in prison of the Canadian-Iranian photo journalist, Zahra Kazemi. Iranian websites say the agent had sent Canadian diplomatic representatives in Tehran, photographs and x-rays of Kazemi taken before her death during her period at the Baghiollah military hospital in the capital, Tehran. Kazemi, a 54-year-old Iranian-born Canadian photojournalist, was arrested in June 2003 after taking photos of demonstrations outside a Tehran prison. She died in the Tehran hospital two weeks later on 11 July 2003 after falling into a coma, believed to have been brought on by head injuries sustained during more than three days of interrogation.
According to the website Akhbar Rouz, the photos and x-rays taken during Kazemi's period at the hospital, are believed to document the torture and violence that was inflicted on her during her interrogation. The arrested agent, who has only been identified by the name Aref, is said to have obtained an immigration visa from the Canadian authorities in exchange for the documentation on Kazemi's case. | Trying to buy his way out with info, but waited too long. |
The Canadian government recently accused the Iranian judicial authorities of injuring Zahra Kazemi during her interrogations. The Iranian judiciary maintains the head injuries were the result of an accident. The first hearing of Kazemi's case at Iran's highest appeals court case began on Monday behind closed doors, with neither the public or media allowed to attend. |