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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Germany asked to arrest Said Mortazavi
2006-06-24
Canada has asked Germany to detain an Iranian prosecutor accused of involvement in the death of an Iranian-Canadian photographer, according to Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Thursday. "My understanding is that (Foreign Minister Peter) MacKay's department has actually asked the Germans to detain this Iranian official before he leaves Germany so that he can be prosecuted for crimes against humanity," Harper told public broadcaster Radio-Canada.

Said Mortazavi, a senior figure in Iran's hardline judiciary, has been accused of being present in July 2003 when photojournalist Zahra Kazemi received a fatal blow to her head while in Iranian custody. Mortazavi has also been accused of masterminding a cover up into the incident. He was in Geneva as part of an Iranian delegation to the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Posted by:Fred

#9  Mortazavi is not in Germany. He attended a UN meeting in Switzerland and enjoys diplomatic immunity there.

The only possibility is that he uses Frankfurt as a transit airport. He would not enjoy immunity in Germany. Transit passengers do not pass immigration though.

By making the request public Canada basically warned Mortazavi who will probably chose another transit airport in a country that Canada has not notified of its request. Just to make sure.

Also Canada has not issued an international warrant or extradition request, so Germany has nothing to act on.

It's one of those typical CYA actions. Showing that you do something without bearing any consequences.
Posted by: Glosh Ebbinemble5139   2006-06-24 12:16  

#8  This would work well if it was Augusto Pinochet - unfortunately for Canada Said Mortazavi is muslim and therefore untouchable...
Posted by: Matt K.   2006-06-24 11:06  

#7  FOAD gets my vote as well. One would think after Germany's sterling geo-political, world peace, and human rights accomplishments of the last century, they would want to start afresh. Obviously, not so.
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-06-24 10:07  

#6  I fully intend to rub their faces in it. Germany made a decision to support Saddam when it chose to sit out Iraq and actively do things to impeed our efforts. It's press is full of anti-US lies. They can FOAD.

If it helps Iran, Germany will if it can get away with it support Iran.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2006-06-24 09:56  

#5  
"Germany will not do a thing. They will find and excuse or pretense by which he may escape. This is Germany after all."

Okay, and when Germany finds themselves knee deep in eye-rolling, ululating, blood-frenzied jihadis...we'll ignore any pleas for help.

Let them have their fate. The French too!

-M
Posted by: Manolo   2006-06-24 07:36  

#4  Good for Harper. Let's see if the Germans will take a stand for justice.
Posted by: Captain America   2006-06-24 07:16  

#3  Now here's a toast to the death of the International Crimminal Court.
Posted by: Danking70   2006-06-24 03:15  

#2  Germany will not do a thing. They will find and excuse or pretense by which he may escape. This is Germany after all.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2006-06-24 02:51  

#1  This could become very interesting.

Go, Canada!
Posted by: Ulert Spolurt9461   2006-06-24 02:47  

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