International Association Of Independent Journalists Inc.
"Journalists In Action Around The World!"
FAQ   Search   Memberlist   Usergroups   Register   Profile   Log in to check your private messages   Log in
In Memory Of Canadian Journalist Zahra Kazemi -April 1, 2005

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    International Association Of Independent Journalists Inc. Forum Index -> News Stories From IAIJ Members
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Maurice
Site Admin


Joined: 08 Jul 2006
Posts: 185

PostPosted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 6:50 am    Post subject: In Memory Of Canadian Journalist Zahra Kazemi -April 1, 2005 Reply with quote

In Memory Of Canadian Journalist Zahra Kazemi


By Maurice Ali, Journalist



Zahra Kazemi


Zahra Kazemi was a Canadian Freelance Photojournalist arrested, tortured and raped and ultimately killed (supposedly from a brain hemorrhage) for photographing a protest in Iran. Zahra was 54 at the time. The story of her death affected me personally as I am also a photojournalist who covers protests. I play it safe and just cover events here at home in Canada. However, the professionals like Zahra Kazemi go where the action is and sometimes pay the price. The queries about her fate by our Canadian government happened when this organization was just beginning and we were in no position to act. This is just one of the many cases where support for journalists is clearly needed on the international level. We, at this organization, hope in time to be a lobby of force at the U.N. and be better able to bring such matters to the forefront as an advocate to all journalists in the field.

Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi (who also held Iranian citizenship) died in Iranian custody on July 11, 2003, three weeks after she was arrested for taking pictures during a student protest in Tehran.

At or about July 13, 2003, Iran's official news agency stated that Zahra had died in hospital, after suffering a stroke while she was being "questioned". On July 16, 2003, Mohammad Ali Abtahi, Iran's vice-president, conceded that Kazemi died as a result of being beaten.

An Iranian security agent was acquitted of a charge of "quasi-intentional murder of Zahra. However, in July 2004, Iran's judiciary said the injuries that killed Zahra were the result of an "accident."

There is little we could do for our fellow journalist and Canadian. However, I have it in my power to award, posthumously, the first IAIJ Award For Journalism to photojournalist Zahra Kazemi. This award is our first and carries no trophy or monetary prise. It is just our way of acknowledging the sacrifice our fellow journalist made in pursuit of telling the world the news.


Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    International Association Of Independent Journalists Inc. Forum Index -> News Stories From IAIJ Members All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group

AndGrey 1.02 Theme was programmed by DEVPPL JavaScript Forum
Images were made by DEVPPL Flash Games