[JURIST] An Iranian appeals court has upheld [AFP report] the acquittal [JURIST report] of the intelligence agent who was accused of murdering Iranian-Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi [CBC backgrounder], lawyers said Wednesday. Kazemi died in 2003, while being detained for photographing a demonstration outside a Tehran prison; evidence of torture and rape surfaced after her death [JURIST report]. Mohammad Reza Aghdam Ahmadi, the intelligence agent accused of Kazemi's murder, was acquitted last year and her family supported his innocence through the appeals process, claiming that a judiciary officer is the real murderer and alleging a cover-up by the government. In addition to upholding Ahmadi's acquittal, the court also ordered that the case be reopened, due to the possibility that other people were involved in Kazemi's death. The case has severely strained relations between Iran and Canada. Earlier this year, Iran denied Canada's demands for her body [JURIST report], saying Canada had no authority since Iran does not recognize dual nationality. CBC News has more. From Iran, IRNA has local coverage.

Previously in JURIST's Paper Chase…

• Iran arrests lawyer investigating death of Canadian photojournalist
• Iranian court refuses to reopen investigation into journalist death
• Doctor says photojournalist killed in Iranian detention was tortured, raped
• Acquittal in Kazemi death appealed
• Appeal can be made on Kazemi ruling, Iranian official says
• Iranian judiciary calls Canadian photojournalist's death an accident
• UN experts call on Iran to observe human rights norms in Kazemi trial