Zahra Kazemi

An Iranian doctor who says he examined Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi says she was tortured and raped before she died in Iranian police custody in 2003.

Doctor Shahram Azam says he examined Ms. Kazemi at an Iranian military hospital days after her arrest for taking pictures outside a Tehran prison.  He says her body showed signs of rape, and that she had a broken nose and fingers.

His account has not been independently confirmed and it contradicts Iranian officials who say she died after a fall and hitting her head.

Doctor Azam recently received asylum in Canada.  Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew says his statement shows that Iran is failing in guaranteeing basic human rights.  Ms. Kazemi's death sparked a diplomatic crisis, with Canada briefly recalling its ambassador from Iran.