14 July 2003

Alert

Photojournalist dies in Tehran


Incident details

Zahra Kazemi

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(RSF/IFEX) - On 12 July 2003, RSF voiced deep shock after learning from the family of photojournalist Zahra Kazemi that she had died in a military hospital in Tehran. She was detained on 23 June by security forces for taking photos. The circumstances that led to her hospitalisation are not clear. She reportedly fell into a coma as a result of a cerebral haemorrhage. Kazemi, aged 54, had both Canadian and Iranian citizenship.

"We hold the Iranian authorities responsible for Zahra Kazemi's death," RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard said, accusing them of arresting her in an arbitrary manner and failing to take the necessary steps to provide her with adequate medical attention. "Her death serves as a tragic reminder that Iran is one of the harshest regimes in the world for journalists," he added.

RSF called on the Iranian authorities to grant the family's request to repatriate the body to Canada, where she lived. It also called for independent international organisations to be allowed to carry out an investigation in Iran into the circumstances of her death.

Kazemi had gone to Iran to do some photo-reporting and had hoped to travel to Turkmenistan. After leaving her family's home in Iran on 23 June, the family received no word of her for several days. The authorities later told them she was being treated at Baghiatollah military hospital in Tehran. During the days following her arrest, the authorities also searched the family's home, confiscating cameras and a large amount of money.

Canadian officials were able to visit Kazemi in hospital, but did not have access to her medical file. Her hospital room was under constant police guard.





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Updates to this story

Photojournalist buried in Iran despite demands to return her body to Canada 23 July 2003

More on this case

Lives of several imprisoned journalists, bloggers in danger 10 July 2012 Seven years after Zahra Kazemi's death in detention, impunity continues 13 July 2010 Quebec court to hear Kazemi family case against Iranian government 8 December 2009 Five years after unexplained death of journalist, new inquiry lacks independence 15 July 2008 RSF voices concern over stalled justice in Zahra Kazemi case 20 January 2004 Parliamentary commission's report identifies Tehran chief prosecutor as directly involved in subjecting journalist Kazemi to violent interrogations, attempting to cover up cause of her death 5 November 2003 Court says only one person responsible in Kazemi case 26 September 2003 Authorities' vagueness and infighting obstruct Kazemi murder probe 27 August 2003 Agents accused in journalist's death 26 August 2003 EU foreign ministers urged to put pressure on Iran over murder of journalist Zahra Kazemi 15 August 2003 RSF says official inquiry into photojournalist's death unsatisfactory, another journalist arrested 22 July 2003 Government offers conflicting explanations of photojournalist's death, more journalists detained 17 July 2003 CJFE calls for independent investigation into journalist's death, despite government's admission that she died after being beaten 16 July 2003 CPJ calls for independent investigation into journalist's death in Iranian hospital 16 July 2003 Journalist declared brain-dead following injuries sustained while in police custody 11 July 2003 Canadian journalist in a coma after attack 10 July 2003

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