Dead, but yet Alive, Absent yet Enduring, Far yet Near

We cover thee, sweet face
Not that we tire of thee
But that thyself fatigue of us

EMILY DICKINSON





Zahra "Ziba" Kazemi-(1948-2003) was an Iranian (Persian)-born freelance photographer, residing in Montreal (Canada), who died in the custody of Iranian officials following her arrest.

Although Iran's regime insists that her death was accidental, Shahram Azam, a former military staff physician who left Iran and sought asylum in Canada in 2004, has stated that he examined Kazemi's body and observed evidence of rape and torture, including a skull fracture, broken nose, crushed toe, broken fingers, and severe abdominal bruising. The Canadian government, as well as Kazemi's supporters, consider her death to be a murder.

Because of the circumstances of her death, she has since become an international cause célèbre. In November 2003, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression honoured Kazemi with the Tara Singh Hayer Memorial Award in recognition of her courage in defending the right to free expression.

Witness to Zahra Kazemi's Murder is Executed