Foreign Interference Commission’s Public Consultation Process team meeting facilitated by the Iranian Canadian Congress
In the summer of 2024, Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue and members of the Foreign Interference Commission’s Public Consultation Process team met with seven individuals belonging to the Iranian Canadian community in a meeting organized with the assistance of the Iranian Canadian Congress. This is a summary of the information shared at that meeting.
https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iraniancanadiancongress/pages/3505/attachments/original/1737138662/Iranian_Canadian_Congress_-_Meeting_Summary__EN_.pdf?1737138662
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شکایت دکتر آرزو خدیر علیه «مداد» و شهرام یزدانپناه
شکایت دکتر آرزو خدیر علیه «مداد» و شهرام یزدانپناه
درخواست غرامت ۱۵هزاردلاری به دلیل توهین و اتهام
گزارش مجله هفته درباره شکایت دکتر آرزو خدیر، رییس کنگره ایرانیان کانادا علیه نشریه مداد و شهرام یزدان پناه
ICC President interview with Canadian Foreign Policy Institute
ICC President interview with Canadian Foreign Policy Institute regarding Canadian officials encourage violence on Iran:
https://youtu.be/y8Il6ddgN7w?si=BF5trw1Zw84uUBdA
Canadian officials are calling on Israel to attack Iran. President of the Iranian Canadian Congress Saideh Khadir joined Talking Foreign Policy to discuss Canada's aggressive position towards the West Asian country and Ottawa's role in supporting the 1953 US/UK overthrow of elected Prime Minister Mossadegh Mossadegh and support for the Shah throughout the 1970s.
The full statement of Dr. Amirhassan Ghasseminejad at consultation panel in Foreign Interference Commission
The full video of Dr. Amirhassan Ghasseminejad, Iranian Canadian Congress Secretary, elaborating on importance of allowing for diversity of opinions in democratic society and the flow of benefits & funds into the Canadian political system at consultation panel in Foreign Interference Commission can be seen here.
Below, you can find the full statement of Dr. Amirhassan Ghasseminejad in Farsi and ٍٍEnglish.
متن سخنان دکتر امیر حسن قاسمی نژاد، دبیر کنگره ایرانیان کانادا، در جلسه مشورتی کمیسیون تحقیقات در مورد دخالت خارجی در کانادا
Read moreStatement by the Iranian Canadian Congress on the Problems Created for Mandatory Conscripts
Statement by the Iranian Canadian Congress on the Problems Created for Mandatory Conscripts
In the past years, anti-Iranian lobbies, along with hardline politicians, have made many efforts to list Iranian military forces on Canada’s terrorist list. In June 2024, the IRCG was added to Canada’s terrorist list.
In the past years, the Iranian Canadian Congress has been the only Iranian Canadian organization to oppose the listing of the IRGC, which represents an official part of the Iranian military, as a terrorist organization. Along with many Canadian political experts, ICC warned about this unusual political move with unprecedented and unpredictable detrimental consequences for thousands of Iranians, such as those who have served their mandatory conscript service in Iran and those related to them. We have repeatedly warned about these types of warmongering policies, which constitute ever more punishment and sanctions against both Iranians and the Iranian Canadian community.
Numerous problems for Iranian Canadians and applications for Canadian visas has confirmed our concerns in this regard. These cases include undue delays in the immigration processes and, in some cases, the denial of visa applications, resulting in the separation of family members.
Iranian Canadian Congress stands firmly against the continued efforts of the anti-Iran lobby in introducing ever more new laws against the Iranian Canadian community, such as Bill C-350, that will lead to dangerous systemic discrimination against Iranian Canadians and make future peaceful relations with Iran impossible.
The Iranian Canadian Congress instead recommends the following actions:
- Removing IRGC from the terrorist list
- Lifting sanctions against Iran
- Establishing diplomatic relations,
- Providing consular services to Iranian Canadians
These actions advance not only the interests of the Iranian Canadian community but of the broader Canadian society as a whole, and are in line with Canadian values of peaceful diplomacy and embracing unity in our diversity.
Read moreICC Final submission of Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Canada
Closing Submissions by Iranian Canadian Congress
Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic
Institutions
ICC is Deeply Concerned About West Asia Tensions; Canada Must Rally Calls for De-escalation
The Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) expresses its deep concerns regarding the escalation of tensions in West Asia. Despite ongoing deadly operations by Israel in Gaza, over 100 hostages are still believed to be held captive there.
In these operations, the Israeli government has indiscriminately attacked innocent civilians, resulting in over 41,500 Palestinians killed, more than 95000 people injured, and more than two million people displaced in the last year. This is not to mention the many thousands of additional deaths due to starvation and disease. In the face of an unprecedented level of international outcry and confirmation of Israel’s war crimes by both the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, instead of accepting international calls for a ceasefire, Israel has expanded its aggression against Lebanon and has carried out multiple assassination operations, leading to the killing of thousands of additional civilians across the region. The Israeli government has demonstrated its full disregard of many international laws.
In recent days, in retaliation for Israeli aggression — including the killing of a peace negotiator on Iranian soil— the Iranian armed forces carried out a response against military targets in Israel. Since Iran’s response on October 1, 2024, Israeli officials are threatening to once again attack Iran, including by targeting oil refineries, infrastructure, and civilian nuclear program, which is under the inspection and monitoring of the IAEA. Such attacks would have devastating consequences for the Iranian people and could expand the conflict into a regional war, endangering the lives of millions of Muslims, Jews, Christians, and other citizens of the West Asia.
Considering that thousands of Canadian citizens and their family members live across the region and in the countries impacted by the Israeli government’s military operations, the Iranian Canadian Congress is deeply concerned about these recent escalations. We urge the Canadian federal government to use all diplomatic means available, including rallying the international community, to pressure the Israeli government to accept a ceasefire in Gaza, to stop its aggression toward Lebanon, and to refrain from expanding the war, including against Iran.
The time has come for this genocidal war to come to an end. A just and lasting peace is in the interest of all people in the region and in the interest of Canada and the Canadian people.
ICC Warns Against Escalation of Tensions in Canada-Iran Relations
ICC Warns Against Escalation of Tensions in Canada-Iran Relations
On Wednesday June 19, 2024, the Government of Canada designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity under the Canadian Criminal Code. The Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) has consistently condemned the IRGC's downing of Ukrainian flight PS752 and has advocated for justice and accountability for the victims and their families. The ICC has also urged Iran to adhere to its international human rights obligations.
However, the ICC views the designation of an official military branch of a sovereign nation—which has mandatory conscription—as reckless and inconsistent with the decision taken by most countries allied with Canada. This designation occurred the day after the UN Human Rights “Commission found that Israeli authorities are responsible for the war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare, murder or wilful killing, intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, forcible transfer, sexual violence, torture and inhuman or cruel treatment, arbitrary detention and outrages upon personal dignity. " This action, at a time when regional tensions are at an all-time high and there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza expanding into a broader regional conflict, particularly along the Israel-Lebanon border and when the region most needs Canada to act constructively as an honest broker to help deescalate tensions in the region, endangers Canada’s interests in the region and the safety of Canadian citizens traveling to Iran or living in Iran.
Despite calls from Iranian Canadians and experts to safeguard individuals who have completed their mandatory military service in the IRGC, the Canadian government has yet to implement specific exclusions from this designation. For over six years, the Prime Minister and his cabinet have said that they have been working on developing a responsible approach to this issue. However, when questioned by reporters, the Minister of Justice offered only a vague response, stating that cases involving former IRGC conscripts would be evaluated individually. The ICC strongly urges the federal government to ensure that the IRGC designation does not indiscriminately apply to individuals compelled to serve in the IRGC who have not engaged in any criminal activities under Canadian law.
In 2019, the Trump administration designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist entity in the United States, which led to the escalation of tensions between the two countries, culminating in the downing of flight PS7522. At the time, Prime Minister Trudeau correctly stated that “if there were no tensions, if there was no escalation recently in the region, those Canadians would be right now home with their families." It is extremely disappointing that our country has taken an action that will neither advance Canada's national interests nor benefit the people of Iran, nor will it help de-escalate tensions in the region.
Closing submission Stage 1 Hearings of Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions
Closing submission by Iranian Canadian Congress
Stage 1 Hearings of Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions
Statement on Recent Escalation of Tensions in West Asia
Statement on Recent Escalation of Tensions in West Asia
Last week’s Israeli forces missile strikes targeting the Iranian Consulate, which also damaged the Canadian Embassy in Syria raised major concern within the Iranian Canadian community. Such breaches of united nations resolutions and violations of international law, which should have been condemned, led to Iran's retaliatory strike against Israeli military installations on April 13th.
We implore the Canadian government to champion the enforcement of UN Resolutions regarding Palestine and actively promote peace, equity, and stability in the region.