Iran halts Kazemitrial

IRAN’S hardline judiciary, accused of a cover-up in the death of Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi, drew fresh indignation by barring diplomats and journalists from the trial of her alleged killer and then abruptly halting the case.

Canadian ambassador Philip Mackinnon, Dutch ambassador Hein De Vries and senior French and British diplomats were told to stay out of the second round of hearings into the case.

The foreign press were also barred from the court, and Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi and her legal team - who are representing Kazemi’s enraged family - stormed out after the judge rejected their call for more witnesses.

“This is a very serious development, there will be diplomatic consequences,” said a diplomat who waited in his car outside the court for over an hour and failed to get a permit to enter.

“This goes against all the assurances we have had that the trial will be open and transparent,” added another diplomat. “The cause of human rights in Iran has taken a very serious blow today.”

Kazemi, a 54-year-old freelance photographer was arrested in June last for taking pictures outside Tehran’s notorious Evin prison. She died from a brain haemorrhage in July 10, 2003.

The judiciary first said she had died of a stroke, but a government report later revealed she had been struck by a blunt object while being interrogated.