Iran's hardline judiciary yesterday refused Canada's request to hand over the body of a female photojournalist who died in Iranian custody in 2003. Canada renewed demands this month for the Islamic state to return Zahra Kazemi's body and start fresh investigations into her death. Kazemi, an Iranian-born Canadian, died of a brain haemorrhage in July 2003 after she was arrested for taking photographs outside Tehran's Evin prison, where many dissidents are held. But judiciary spokesman Jamal Karimirad ruled out returning her body, which is buried in Shiraz. "Kazemi was an Iranian citizen, so such views and remarks are incompatible with our laws and international laws," Karimirad told a weekly news conference. He said the judiciary was still investigating her death.