In a disappointing decision released this morning, the Supreme Court of Canada has barred civil claims for torture committed by a foreign state, even where the victim is a Canadian citizen.
In July 2003, Zahra Kazemi, a Canadian citizen and journalist, died in Iran. She had been arrested for taking photographs of protestors in front of Evin prison in Tehran and, while in detention, was beaten, raped and tortured by Iranian government officials. She died as a result of injuries sustained.