[ridenrain]

Iran has closed the Zahra Kazemi case. Conservative Foreign Affairs Critic Stockwell Day has some harsh comments for our government's response:
“In light of this latest announcement, did our Prime Minister even bother to call theirs? No. Did our Foreign Minister get theirs on the phone? No. Did our government call in their Ambassador for a full explanation and a demand to reopen the case? No. Will Iran ever respect Canada in the face of our pathetic response? No,” said Day.

Day said the Prime Minister must intervene and demand that the case be properly investigated. “Anything less than that shows dereliction of duty in defending the security of Canadians.”

To refresh everyones memory:
Iranian-Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi died in Iranian custody on July 11, 2003, almost three weeks after she was arrested for taking pictures outside a prison during a student protest in Tehran.

Azam said Kazemi showed obvious signs of torture, including:


Evidence of a very brutal rape.
A skull fracture, two broken fingers, missing fingernails, a crushed big toe and a broken nose.
Severe abdominal bruising, swelling behind the head and a bruised shoulder.
Deep scratches on the neck and evidence of flogging on the legs.

(but I'm sure there were no terrorists involved, )


cbc story.

[ShepherdsDog]

Their PC spin doctors don't want to offend the Iranian mullahs by imposing our values on their system of justice. That, or they are a pack of hypocritical cowards who enjoy denegrating their closest ally but refuse to condemn a bunch of thugs who think it's OK to torture women. before murdering them.

[Synt4x]

ShepherdsDog wrote:

Their PC spin doctors don't want to offend the Iranian mullahs by imposing our values on their system of justice. That, or they are a pack of hypocritical cowards who enjoy denegrating their closest ally but refuse to condemn a bunch of thugs who think it's OK to torture women. before murdering them.

hmmm

[Patrick_Ross]

I could agree less, but not much less. The Canadaian government's response to the Kazemi case is shameful.

[Synt4x]

Patrick_Ross wrote:

I could agree less, but not much less. The Canadaian government's response to the Kazemi case is shameful.

im in the same boat. could care less

[JayRoc]

I am embarassed yet not surprised. Our Government are a bunch of Pussy's when it comes to sticking up for ourselves. I bet any other country in the world would have done much more for one of their citizens...Absolutely Shameful!

[hwacker]

Here's the whole thing

Quote:

im in the same boat. could care less

Nobody in this country really gives a shit about anything.

[hwacker]

JayRoc wrote:

I am embarassed yet not surprised. Our Government are a bunch of Pussy's when it comes to sticking up for ourselves. I bet any other country in the world would have done much more for one of their citizens...Absolutely Shameful!

You can bet on it, The Liberals really don't care about anything if it doesn't involve getting votes or money.

If this was the USA, they would have opened a huge can of whoopass. At lease they care about their citizens in and outside of the country.


Suxs to be us.

[Giselle]

I for one will be giving a cheer when the US finally does go in and blows the shit outta the place. Iran is truely a cancer in the middle east.

Edit: I know there are decent people in Iran they should get the hell outta there so they aren't caught being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[ShepherdsDog]

Funny how Iran and Iraq were once some of the most advanced and progressive states in the Middle East. What happened to them?

[Patrick_Ross]

Synt4x wrote:

Patrick_Ross wrote:

I could agree less, but not much less. The Canadaian government's response to the Kazemi case is shameful.

im in the same boat. could care less

Hwacker wrote:

Quote:

I'm in the same boat. I could care less.

Nobody in this country really gives a shit about anything.

Please don't misunderstand me. I care very strongly on this topic. I was issuing a slight diasgreement with the "PC Spin Doctors" comment. The trouble is, what can we in Canada do to make the Iranian government regret their treatment of Kazemi?
That's right. Jack shit.
But that doesn't mean that our government shouldn't have made some effort to lodge a protest. Our government has let us ALL down once again, and sent a message to corrupt regimes the world over that it is OK to torture and murder Canadians -- because the Canadian government won't do or say fuck all.

[ridenrain]

The Canadian Embassy in Iran
Welcome to the office of the Trade Commissioner Service in Tehran.
Effective immediately, we will limit our encounters with Iranian officials to the Kazemi case, Iran's human rights record and Iran's nuclear non-proliferation performance. No visits or exchanges by Iranian officials to Canada will be permitted, nor will Canadian officials engage with Iran, except relating to these issues.
Canada will not block the initiatives of private Canadian companies to trade with their Iranian counterparts. However, we will continue to apply strict export controls on sensitive goods and we will continue to advise business people about the political environment to consider when doing business with Iran. Furthermore, any existing programs of cooperation between Canadian government agencies and their Iranian counterparts will be halted. This state of relations will persist until Iran has taken steps to launch a credible and independent investigation and judicial process into the Kazemi case. We have not decided to recall our Ambassador, nor to shut down Embassy services. We believe there continues to be a need for professional-level dialogue regarding the serious existing difficulties in our relationship.


Canadian embassy in Iran

We do trade about $500 million with Iran ('95 numbers) although Canada sends 30% more than we recieve. I guess telcom & pharmaceuticals and oil tech cost a bit more than carpets and pistachios.

[Patrick_Ross]

That's more comforting... slightly.

[Tory_canuck]

Canada should impose economic sanctions on Iran until it stops it's human rights abuses.

[Tman1]

Tory_canuck wrote:

Canada should impose economic sanctions on Iran until it stops it's human rights abuses.

Uhh right, how effective will that be when 0.1% of trade is with them?