Canadian resident sentenced to death in Iran

An Iranian-born Canadian resident has been sentenced to death in Tehran in a case his supporters say is rife with torture and human rights abuses.

A website run by those campaigning for Saeed Malekpour's release from an Iranian prison said the 35-year-old man was sentenced to death on Saturday.

Malekpour's supporters say an Iranian judge told his lawyer the death sentence was not his decision but one made by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Malekpour is a website developer who became a permanent Canadian resident in 2004. As such, he is not a Canadian citizen but retains his Iranian citizenship.

His supporters, including his wife who now lives in Richmond Hill, Ont., say he was arrested in Iran in October 2008 after a trip to visit his ailing father.

'Internet offences'

He has been held in Tehran's Evin Prison in relation to a case of "internet offences" linked to a program he made for what turned out to be an adult website.

The charges against him include "taking action against national security by designing and moderating adult content websites," "agitation against the regime" and "insulting the sanctity of Islam." His supporters say Malekpour wasn't aware the program he made would be used for an adult website.

Malekpour wrote an open letter to Iranian officials in March this year alleging forced confessions, torture which includes lashings, and physical abuse resulting in broken teeth and bodily infections.

"Most of the time, the tortures were performed by a group," he wrote. "While I remained blindfolded and handcuffed, several individuals armed with cables, batons and their fists struck and punched me."

Malekpour said his mistreatment was aimed at forcing him to admit to a false confession before a camera, based on scenarios his interrogators were dictating.

Those campaigning for his release say he was often held in solitary confinement without any outside contact or access to a lawyer.

The group has also sent a petition to the House of Commons calling for Ottawa to appeal to the Iranian government and demand Malekpour's release.

In an email to CBC News, Alain Cacchione, a spokesman for Canada's Foreign Affairs Department, said: "Canada remains deeply concerned by the continued flagrant disregard of the Iranian authorities for the rights of Iranians.

"This appears to be another case in which someone in Iran is facing a death sentence after a highly questionable process."

Cacchione said Canada continues "to call on Iran to respect its domestic and international obligations and ensure fairness and due process for all its citizens and others."