NEWS RELEASES

April 5, 2005 (6:10 p.m. EDT)
No. 60

STATEMENT BY MINISTER PETTIGREW CALLING FOR INTERNATIONAL FORENSIC INVESTIGATION INTO KAZEMI DEATH

In a telephone conversation today with Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew called for the creation of an independent three-party group of forensic experts to conduct an autopsy on the body of Zahra Kazemi:

"Iran must agree to an independent international forensic investigation into the death of Zahra Kazemi in light of the recent allegations made by Dr. Shahram Aazam. I have proposed a three-member, independent group of forensic experts to conduct an autopsy that would help to determine precisely what happened during her custody.

"To ensure complete impartiality, I have suggested that the team be made up of a Canadian, an Iranian, and one neutral and independent expert from a mutually agreed upon country.

"The ball is now in Iran's court. Only a transparent and credible process can answer the disturbing questions that remain about Zahra Kazemi's death and the subsequent investigation."

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