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Hamid Ghassemi-Shall: John Baird Calls On Iran To Grant Clemency To Canadian On Death Row In Tehran's Evin Prison

Posted: 04/15/2012 8:26 pm Updated: 04/16/2012 12:59 am

OTTAWA - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is calling on the Iranian government to save the life of an Iranian-Canadian who's on death row in Tehran.

In a statement issued Sunday, Baird said Canada is gravely concerned by indications that Hamid Ghassemi-Shall's execution may be carried out imminently.

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

Ghassemi-Shall, 42, was arrested in 2008 while visiting his family, and was later charged with espionage.

He was sentenced to death in 2009 and an Iranian court has rejected an appeal.

"We urge Iran to reverse its current course and to adhere to its international human rights obligations," Baird said.

Ghassemi-Shall emigrated to Canada after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

He is awaiting execution in Tehran's notorious Evin prison, where another Canadian — photo journalist Zahra Kazemi of Montreal — was beaten, raped and killed in 2003.

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OTTAWA - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is calling on the Iranian government to save the life of an Iranian-Canadian who's on death row in Tehran.In a statement issued Sunday, Baird said Canada i...
OTTAWA - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is calling on the Iranian government to save the life of an Iranian-Canadian who's on death row in Tehran.In a statement issued Sunday, Baird said Canada i...
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jrmunro
50 Fans
04:01 AM on 04/16/2012
Maybe a better idea would be to exchange Baird for this guy.
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jrmunro
50 Fans
01:54 AM on 04/16/2012
Why should Iran care what baird has to say since the sanctions that Canada is part of will ultimately kill innocent Iranians. I say go ahead Iran.
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jrmunro
50 Fans
01:38 AM on 04/16/2012
Nice try Baird. You and Harper call Iran the most dangerous country in the world and support sanctions against them and they`re going to listen to you.
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A Tired Canadian
40 Fans
03:48 AM on 04/16/2012
and maybe the Iranians just proved their point!
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