THUNDER BAY – Across Canada, people gathered in communities to remember and honour veterans who have fought to defend freedoms. One of the critical freedoms we take for granted is freedom of the press. Sattar Beheshti was an Iranian blogger. He is widely believed to have been tortured and finally tortured to death by authorities in Evin prison in Iran. The week before his death, Beheshti was arrested for criticizing the Iranian government on Facebook.
Reporters Without Borders said “Lt was “deeply shocked to learn of the death of the netizen Sattar Beheshti. The organization has called on “Iranian authorities to clarify the exact circumstances of the netizen’s death” and implored “the international community not to allow this crime to go unpunished.
A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird commented, “We call upon Iran to immediately clarify his status and treatment. Iran must comply with its domestic and international human rights obligations.”
The spokesperson of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, Catherine Ashton, issued the following statement today:
“The High Representative is deeply concerned to hear that Iranian blogger Sattar Beheshti has recently died in custody. The EU expects the Iranian authorities to conduct a thorough enquiry into the case, in order to establish the exact circumstances of his death.
The EU remains deeply concerned by the Human Rights situation in Iran, and urges the Iranian authorities to halt the repression of bloggers and internet activists.
The High Representative calls on the Iranian authorities to ensure that Iranian citizens enjoy full respect and protection of the rights granted to them in the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran has subscribed.”