Report from the 2014-2015 ICC Board about their meeting with the DFATD representatives. 

Dear Members of the Iranian Canadian Congress,

This is to inform you that on October 22, 2014, the Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) received a request for a meeting from a representative of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD). Pursuant to this request, on October 28, 2014, a meeting was held between the President, Secretary, and another board member (Director of Human Rights Committee) of the ICC and the DFATD representative.

During this meeting, the DFATD sought the position of the ICC and its members on a number of issues pertaining to breaches of human rights in Iran.  While referring to the October report of Dr. Ahmad Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, the ICC expressed concerns and condemned the ongoing increased number of executions and the recent instances of acid attacks on a number of Iranian women, as well as the latest unfair trial and horrific execution of Reyhaneh Jabbari. While condemning the breaches of human rights in Iran, the ICC also condemned the recent terrorist attack on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and referred the DFATD representative to the ICC’s message of condemnation sent to the office of Prime Minister Harper.

The ICC also requested that the Canadian government as one of the leaders of the human rights issues in UN should stress on the continuous violation of human rights in Iran when participating in negotiations with the present representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The issue of the Iranian refugees and those, whose life would be at risk if deported from Canada, was another important item that was brought to the attention of the DFATD staff. The ICC strongly requested DFATD to stop any deportation of Iranian refugees due to the constant human rights violations in Iran as confirmed by the latest UN report.

During this meeting, the President of the ICC provided the DFATD with a copy of the mandate of the ICC and informed the DFATD of the organization’s membership structure and the ICC’s role to promote the interest and the well-being of Iranian-Canadians.

In conclusion the ICC pledged to stay in further communication with the DFATD.

 Board of Directors

Iranian Canadian Congress