Canada Urges Clemency For Canadian-Iranian On Death Row

Canada's foreign minister has called on Iran to grant clemency to a Canadian-Iranian sentenced to death for espionage.

In a statement, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Canada was "gravely concerned" that the execution of Hamid Ghassemi-Shall, 42, may be imminent.

Ghassemi-Shall was detained in Iran and sentenced to death for espionage in 2009.

His supporters say he had traveled to Iran to visit his mother.

Ghassemi-Shall immigrated to Canada following the Islamic Revolution of 1979, but Iran does not recognize his dual citizenship.

He is being held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison.


Based on reporting by AFP and the "Toronto Star"