Ministers seek clemency for Canadian facing death penalty in Iran

Canadian officials issued an urgent appeal to the Iranian government Sunday, fearing an Iran-born Canadian sentenced to death could be executed “imminently.”

In a joint statement, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and Minister of State of Foreign Affairs Diane Ablonczy said Canada was “gravely concerned” Hamid Ghassemi-Shall’s execution “may be carried out imminently.”

Ghassemi-Shall went to Iran in 2008 to visit his ailing mother but was jailed and sentenced to death for alleged crimes against the Iranian state.

“Canada urgently appeals to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to grant clemency to Mr. Ghassemi-Shall on compassionate and humanitarian grounds,” their statement said.

Amnesty International says the dual national was sentenced to death in 2008 on espionage-related charges.

“We urge Iran to reverse its current course and to adhere to its international human rights obligations,” the ministers added.

Source: The Vancouver Sun, April 15, 2012

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