Thursday, July 24, 2003
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CREDIT: Global BC
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Keyvan Tabesh, 18, of Burnaby, B.C., died when he was shot by a police officer in Port Moody, about 25 kilometres east of Vancouver, on July 14.
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TEHRAN (AP-CP) -- Iran accused Canadian police on Thursday of killing an Iranian in the sleepy Vancouver suburb of Port Moody and said those responsible should be punished, a demand that echoes Canadian protests over the treatment of Montreal photojournalist Zahra Kazemi, who died in Iranian custody.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi was quoted by the official Iranian news agency saying that Canadian police killed an Iranian national and injured another, and imposed a news blackout on the "criminal act."
He was referring to the death of Keyvan Tabesh, 18, of Burnaby, B.C., who was shot by a police officer in Port Moody, about 25 kilometres east of Vancouver, on July 14.
News reports at the time quoted Port Moody police saying that Tabesh was wielding a machete and running at a police officer when he was shot. Tabesh was reported to have come to Canada two years ago.
Asefi said Canadian police "attacked three Iranian nationals in Vancouver," killing Tabesh and injuring another Iranian. Asefi pointed to "ambiguity" in the case and alleged that Canada has imposed a news blackout on it.
Const. Brian Soles of Port Moody police said Thursday his force, Vancouver police and the coroner are investigating last week's shooting. "Any findings the coroner may have will be compiled in a report with the investigative report and that will go to Crown counsel for determination as to charges if any."
He said he had "no idea" how his force got caught up in the allegation made by the Iranian foreign ministry.
"We are conducting a police investigation and we're going to continue with that investigation free from political interference," Soles said.
The Tabesh killing was brought into the escalating diplomatic dispute between Canada and Iran a day after Canada recalled its ambassador to Tehran in a protest over what happened to Kazemi. The Iranian-Canadian woman died July 10, nearly three weeks after she was detained for taking photographs outside a Tehran prison during last month's student-led protests.
In Ottawa, Foreign Affairs spokesman Reynald Doiron said he would not comment on "what seems to be an unfortunate situation that is under police investigation."
He added, however, that "based on the preliminary indications we don't believe the situations can be compared in any way."
Kazemi was buried in Iran despite Canada's request that her body be sent back to Canada according to the wishes of her son in Montreal. Ottawa has also demanded that Iran punish those responsible for her death and provide a full account of how she died.
Iran had responded by ordering an inquiry into Kazemi's death, but Tehran's position appeared to harden Thursday with the statement that mirrored some of the Canadian demands.
The Iranian news agency reported that Iran will urge the Canadian government "to deliver prompt, transparent and satisfying explanation on the horrifying crime."
"The crime perpetrated by Canadian police, which is responsible for the security of the society, has caused fear and horror among the Iranian community in Canada," Asefi was quoted as saying.
"The spokesman said that the Islamic Republic of Iran calls on the Canadian government to bring to justice those responsible for the crime," the news agency said.
Soles said his force has not been contacted by officials from either the Iranian or Canadian government.
Meanwhile, a top Culture Ministry official has acknowledged that Tehran prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi forced him to announce that Kazemi died of a brain stroke, a version that was officially discredited later.
Mohammad Hussein Khoshvaqt, head of the foreign press department at the Culture Ministry, also said Mortazavi had accused Kazemi of being a spy and reprimanded him for "issuing permission for a spy to work."
Khoshvaqt made the dramatic revelation in a letter addressed to Parliamentary Speaker Mahdi Karroubi Wednesday. The full text of the letter was published in the reformist paper Yas-e-Nou on Thursday. Ali Reza Shiravi, an official at the Culture Ministry, confirmed the authenticity of the letter to The Associated Press.
Mortazavi is widely believed to have pushed for a quick and quiet burial of Kazemi after her death, but presidential investigators stepped in to prevent the burial until investigations were complete.
Iran's Vice-President Mohammad Ali Abtahi then said Kazemi died of a beating.
The presidential committee that investigated the death said Kazemi, 54, had complained of punishment from her guards and eventually died of a "fractured skull, brain hemorrhage and its consequences resulting from a hard object hitting the head or the head hitting a hard object."
"The Tehran prosecutor surprisingly asked me to write what he dictated to me. He raised several issues including ... death due to brain stroke ... Then he got it typed on a paper with a Culture Ministry emblem. Got me to sign it and sent it IRNA (the Islamic Republic News Agency)," the letter said.
Khoshvaqt said he was effectively held hostage at Mortazavi's office and allowed to leave only after IRNA ran the story.
He said Mortazavi accused him of issuing a press card for "a spy to work" and threatened to prosecute him for that.
Kazemi was never formally charged with any offences.
On Wednesday, Kazemi was buried in her birthplace, the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, against the wishes of her son, Stephan Hachemi, who lives in Montreal, and the Canadian government.
The burial prompted Canada to recall its ambassador Wednesday to protest Iran's handling of the case.
In Ottawa, Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham said Wednesday that Canada was also considering other measures, including trade sanctions, to pressure Iran to exhume Kazemi's body and send it to Canada.
Iran described Canada's decision to recall its ambassador as ``unacceptable,'' IRNA reported late Wednesday.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran, in accordance with its responsibilities, is resolved to investigate the circumstances of this grave incident. In any case, we hope that Canada will refrain from taking any hasty and irrational measures that could complicate the situation," IRNA quoted Asefi as saying.
Kazemi's death has become the latest bitter dispute between hardliners and reformists struggling for power in Iran. Reformers have called for the ouster and prosecution of Mortazavi and other hardliners they hold responsible for her death.
On Wednesday, Iran's pro-reform president, Mohammad Khatami, called for an open trial of those behind the death. "Any person who is a culprit anywhere should be punished and the issue clarified," Khatami told reporters.
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