27°c Partly cloudy
18°c Cloudy periods
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Canada pleads for citizen's safety 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.
-- Postmedia News
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 16, 2012 A8
More Canada
- Back to Top
- Return to Canada
More Canada
(1 of 31 articles for today)
Quebec construction unions warn they could stay on strike for a long time
6:02 PM 0MONTREAL - Quebec's construction strike settled into its second day with a warning that workers are ready to stay off ...
Poll
Most Popular Canada
- More controversy in Montreal: three police officers suspended amid RCMP probe
- Senate's hired motivational speakers scrubbed after planned pep talk goes public
- Next! Montreal seeks yet another mayor after second one quits in scandal
- Montreal's new mayor in hot water
- Hike in disclosure for public servants should apply to unions too: Liberals
- Harper lauds G8 declaration on Syrian conflict despite lack of consensus
- Ottawa says man was Asian crime gang member and should be kicked out of Canada
- Fast and curious driver caught going 221 km/h loses car, nets double the fine
- Montreal's interim mayor, a self-styled corruption fighter, faces fraud charges
- Edmonton police withdraw Amber Alert for nine-month-old; baby found safe
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- Montreal's interim mayor, a self-styled corruption fighter, faces fraud charges
- Marois defends turban ban
- Canadian woman, daughter caught smuggling $59,000 in bras, border agents say
- Woman charged after drink tossed at embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford
- Questions about Mayor Rob Ford overshadow news of huge police raids
- Trudeau to compensate charities that paid him to help raise money
- Training manuals for Parliament guides boost Senate, praise two-party system
- RCMP confirms it's investigating Nigel Wright payment to Mike Duffy
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Controversy around Toronto mayor Rob Ford continues to grow
- Glover, Bezan fight suspension from Parliament
- Alleged Rob Ford drug video 'gone,' source tells Gawker
- Gawker hits $200K for 'crack cocaine' video as mayor's senior aides resign
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- 'I am not stepping aside,' Mayor Rob Ford says, as 'crack video' scandal rages
- Mother cries, yells as driver appears in court charged with killing boy on patio
- Senate's hired motivational speakers scrubbed after planned pep talk goes public
- Fast and curious driver caught going 221 km/h loses car, nets double the fine
- Harper lauds G8 declaration on Syrian conflict despite lack of consensus
- Next! Montreal seeks yet another mayor after second one quits in scandal
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Senate's hired motivational speakers scrubbed after planned pep talk goes public
- B.C. is 'in the risk zone' for mega-earthquake along the coast: study
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- Feds want to extend blanket of permanent secrecy over 11 new agencies
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Squirrel takes whirl in toilet; woman rescues rodent with barbecue tongs
- Wendy's 9-patty burger extinct
- Training manuals for Parliament guides boost Senate, praise two-party system
- Western premiers discuss bullies; say topic will be part of all-premiers meeting
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Glover, Bezan fight suspension from Parliament
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Banff officials hunt for cougar that man fought off with skateboard
- Harper government brings in new performance review system for public service
- Up to one of every three members of new tribunal gave money to Conservatives
- Senate's hired motivational speakers scrubbed after planned pep talk goes public
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.