Iranian Canadian Congress requests to Investigate Corrupt Officials and Embezzlers from Iran  

TO:  

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Honourable David Lametti, 

Minister of Public Safety Honourable Marco Mendicino, 

Minister of National Revenue Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, 

With the start of the protests in Iran, the Iranian Canadian community has renewed its request to the Canadian government to investigate cases of individuals who have accumulated extreme wealth through corruption and embezzlement in Iran and have fled to Canada. The Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) had previously expressed its concern about such cases in a letter to the Canadian government and launched a petition, supported by thousands of our community members, asking the government to open an investigation on the cases of embezzlers, such as Mahmoud Reza Khavari, using the full power of the Canadian law including but not limited to anti-money laundry laws.  

Despite such requests on several occasions, Iranian Canadians have never received any response, nor has the government taken any tangible action on this issue. The inaction of the Canadian government on these cases has allowed individuals who have enriched themselves from corruption to evade justice and has damaged the Iranian Canadians’ trust in the government's willingness to stand up for the rights of the Iranian people. 

As such, we call on the Canadian government and the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of National Revenue to do the right thing and finally respond to the request of our community by immediately launching investigations through responsible agencies about the cases of these embezzlers and corrupt individuals. We are confident that such an action will be well received by our community and will reinforce Canada’s position to stand with the Iranian people at this difficult time. 

Our government and law enforcement agencies must prevent Canada from becoming a safe haven for corrupt money and corrupt individuals. Our government must act now! 

Sincerely,  

Moslem Noori 

President, Iranian Canadian Congress