Iran has rejected Canada's request for a team of international forensic to examine the body of murdered journalist Zahra Kazemi:
"Such a demand does not conform with Iranian laws or international regulations," the spokesman for Iran's judges, Jamal Karimirad, told reporters Tuesday. "Kazemi was an Iranian citizen. Although she also had Canadian nationality, under Iran's laws, an additional citizenship doesn't negate her Iranian nationality. Therefore, Iran's judiciary is competent to carry out the investigation," Mr. Karimirad said.
No surprise here. The farce continues. Now, how will Canada react? After two years of this cat-and-mouse game, will the Liberals finally take more concrete action? So far their behaviour has reminded me of the caricatured Hans Blix dealing with Kim Jong-il in the movie Team America: "If you don't stop I'll.....I'lll...I'll.... write you a letter!!!!!"
The most oft-cited excuse for not taking action on this file has been "What can we do?" That's basically what Pettigrew told me when I asked him about this a few weeks ago. Well, we have to do something.
The first thing Canada should do is recall its ambassador to Iran. Secondly, they should kick out Iran's ambassador to Canada. Then, Canada should dedicate itself to the project of fundamental reform of the United Nations, publicly stating as the reason the Kazemi case. Heck, maybe no one would lisen -- or care. But it would at least be pro-active. Iran has shown it does not deserve to sit at the table of civilized nations time and again.
UPDATE: Good post and cool graphic here.
