Devildogg4ever
07-25-03, 03:37 AM
Friday, July 25, 2003
By AP and CP
TEHRAN -- Iran accused Canadian police yesterday of killing an Iranian in the Vancouver area 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.
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.
INVESTIGATING SHOOTING
Const. Brian Soles of Port Moody police said yesterday his force, Vancouver police and the coroner are investigating last week's shooting.
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 prison during student-led protests.
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 and provide a full account.
On the death of Tabesh, the Iranian news agency reported Iran will urge the Canada "to deliver a 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.
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.
http://www.canoe.ca/WinnipegNews/ws.ws-07-25-0017.html
By AP and CP
TEHRAN -- Iran accused Canadian police yesterday of killing an Iranian in the Vancouver area 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.
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.
INVESTIGATING SHOOTING
Const. Brian Soles of Port Moody police said yesterday his force, Vancouver police and the coroner are investigating last week's shooting.
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 prison during student-led protests.
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 and provide a full account.
On the death of Tabesh, the Iranian news agency reported Iran will urge the Canada "to deliver a 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.
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.
http://www.canoe.ca/WinnipegNews/ws.ws-07-25-0017.html