Smackdown (June 24th, 2006)

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay has called for the arrest of Iranion Prosecutor General Saeed Mortazavi for his … ahem General PERsecution which lead to the death of Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi.

The Iranian Justice Minister responded:

But in an interview with CBC News, Iranian Justice Minister Jamal Karimirad dismissed Canada’s claims, calling them “highly regrettable, a violation of international protocols.”

According to Karimirad, allegations that Mortazavi had any involvement in the death of Kazemi are unfounded.

“The allegations are fabrications,” he said, “baseless lies.”

“The fact Canada’s foreign minister was repeating them,” he added, “was libelous.”

To these comments, Peter MacKay laid the smack down Canadian style:

“Take me to court. Come to Canada and face it in the justice system, if that’s what he believes. I don’t put a lot of faith in what the Iranian justice minister has to say, frankly.”

Ouch. That had to hurt.

I just can’t imagine why Iran has such disdain for Canada.

H/T to Seanblog