Arab States Support Iraq in Bazoft Case
Arab states said Monday they fully support Iraq against Western criticism of its execution of London-based journalist Farzad Bazoft after his conviction on spying charges.
“The council (of the Arab League) proclaims its complete solidarity with Iraq in the defense of its sovereignty and national security,” said a statement issued after a meeting of Arab ambassadors in Tunis.
“The spy Farzad Bazoft (was) convicted for spying for foreign secret services, as established by his confessions to Iraqi justice, after a trial which conformed to internationally recognized legal rules,” it added.
Bazoft, an Iranian-born journalist working for the British Sunday newspaper The Observer, was hanged in Baghdad on March 15.
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher described the execution as barbaric and recalled Britain’s ambassador to Baghdad.
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