Date: March 30, 2026

Subject: Urgent Call for the NDP to Take a Position on the Illegal War of Aggression against Iran

Dear Mr. Avi Lewis,

On behalf of the Iranian Canadian Congress and the Iranian community we represent, I congratulate you on your recent election. We look forward to working with you on matters of importance to Iranian Canadians and to all who value peace and human rights.

The Iranian Canadian Congress has always advocated for peace. We foresaw this war of aggression coming and, as a result, we were attacked by many pro-intervention pressure groups. Despite that, we led efforts to prevent any violent measures from Canada and to favour diplomacy over war. Unfortunately, our warnings have now come to pass.

We note with appreciation that your Interim Leader, Don Davies, has taken a strong stance against the illegal war of aggression being waged against Iran. He has spoken forcefully in Parliament, condemning the war and stating that the NDP believes there have been "numerous, repeated and continuing war crimes" committed in this conflict.

We write to you today with urgency. This war began with the deliberate bombing of a school using American Tomahawk missiles, killing 168 children between the ages of 6 and 12 along with 15 of their teachers. To date, over 2,500 people have been killed, the majority civilians. The carpet bombing of residential areas continues, while hundreds of schools, hospitals, medical centers, power plants, and industrial facilities have been destroyed or damaged.

These actions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. The deliberate killing of children and the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure cannot be tolerated.

We urge you to join Interim Leader Don Davies in advancing the cause of peace at a moment when this conflict is putting the world in grave danger. Specifically, we call on you to:

1. Condemn the illegal war of aggression against Iran and the deliberate targeting of civilians.

2. Support international investigations into war crimes.

3. Demand Canada press for an end to these hostilities under international law.

4. Call for an end to economic sanctions against Iran, which hurt Iranian people and which led to this situation in the first place.

5. Call for the re-establishment of honest and constructive diplomacy, as well as consular services, without which Iranian-Canadians lack adequate resources to navigate travel and other services during times of both war and peace.

This war must end. Canada has a moral obligation to speak out. We expect the NDP to lead on this issue.

Sincerely,

Mona Ghassemi,

President of the Iranian Canadian Congress