Statement in Response to the latest U.S Aggression Against Iran

Iranian Canadian Congress condemns in the strongest terms the attacks last night by the United States on Iranian soil, which recklessly ran the risk of untold harm to Iran’s population with nuclear fallout by bombing civilian nuclear infrastructure sites.  

In a deeply concerning break from reality, U.S. President Donald Trump followed his announcement of the attacks—which came after over a week of unprovoked Israeli attacks which killed hundreds of civilians—that “now is the time for peace”. We ask ourselves how a president who has campaigned on the promise not to involve the United States in further wars, justifies Israel’s bombing while Iran was at the negotiating table with the U.S., follows with another egregious and unlawful attack, and expects Iran to complacently submit to this state of affairs.

We are deeply dismayed that Prime Minister Mark Carney, who campaigned on a platform of standing up to U.S. bullying, now kowtows to the position taken by the U.S. and Israel, that in contravention to the U.N. charter, launders a war of aggression initiated by Israel and backed by the United States. We are also horrified at opposition leader Pierre Poilievre’s statement calling Iran’s government a “genocidal regime” while Israel continues its relentless attacks on Gaza, Iran, and other neighbouring countries. Poilievre’s statement flies in the face of the findings of the International Court of Justice, recognized by broad swathes of the Canadian and International Community, that Israel is committing genocide.

We strongly urge Mark Carney’s government to show some backbone, listen to Canadian citizens’ calls to not involve our country in U.S. and Israeli aggression, and act in accordance with Canadian and International law to avert further escalation of war.

Join Iranian Canadian Congress to condemn the Israeli attacks on Iranian people, particularly the targeting of civilian residential areas, energy and other civilian infrastructure and facilities. These attacks have so far killed and wounded hundreds of innocent Iranians. 
 
Such actions are a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter. As a responsible and peaceful nation, Canada must not remain silent in the face of these clear violations of international law. Our government must stand for diplomacy, respect for international law, and the protection of civilian lives. 

The Iranian Canadian Congress calls on the Canadian Government to: 
 
- Publicly condemn these attacks; 
 
- Call for an immediate cessation of hostilities; 
 
- Engage diplomatically through G7 and other international and multilateral institutions to de-escalate the conflict and promote peace in the region. 

By clicking on this link and giving your address, you can easily send the prepared letter to your MP and Senate member. 

Canada Must Oppose Israeli Attacks on the People of Iran | Canada Must Oppose Israeli Attacks on the People of Iran

Iranian Canadian Congress is devastated to hear the news of Israel’s latest attack against Iran. Among the targets were residential buildings, and the victims included children. Our hearts go out to our compatriots in Iran. We are sure so many in the diaspora, like us, frantically reached out to family as soon as they heard the news, to assure their safety.

As an organization whose mandate includes “advocating  peace, dialogue, and collaboration between Canada and other nations”, ICC has consistently called attention to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and called upon our Canadian government to broker a just and lasting peace in the region. We have always been keenly aware of the possibility that military actions would expand into Iran, and while it came close to that on several occasions, today we fear that the escalations have brought us to the tipping point.

With war looming, we are also concerned regarding the current state of Canada-Iran relations. In the context of recent travel bans imposed by U.S. President Trump that include Iran, the lack of Iranian consular services in Canada is a grave concern, as so many of us would do everything in our power to bring our relatives to safety, especially given that until recently Iranian-Canadians had to make use of the Iranian office in the Pakistani Embassy in the U.S. to meet their consular needs.

We therefore urge our Canadian politicians more urgently than ever, to expedite the re-establishment of consular services, to act as an arbitrator to ceasefire in West Asia, and to extend a helping hand to support those affected by war.

Iranian Canadian Congress is honoured to join the growing list of organizations, which in Canada include several federal political parties as well as human rights groups, who have endorsed the March to Gaza. As an organization whose mandate includes “advocating  peace, dialogue, and collaboration between Canada and other nations”, and “promoting and strengthening cross-cultural harmony to advance tolerance, understanding, and goodwill among all segments of the multicultural Canadian society”,  we believe in human rights, dignity and self-determination for all people. The unfolding genocide against Palestinians following longstanding illegal occupation and apartheid, including cruelties imposed upon the elderly, women, children, journalists, healthcare providers and aid workers, should concern every principled human being on this planet. We believe that the Canadian government should do everything in its power to end the ongoing injustice against indigenous peoples, both within its own borders and on the international stage, and that as concerned citizens, we should do everything in our power to support the oppressed. We therefore encourage all those who are able to join this international group of human rights advocates through either direct participation, financial or logistical support, or simply spreading the word regarding this momentous event of peaceful protest. You can join the Canadian delegation by contacting Palestine Vivra. 

We will continue to advocate for peace, justice, and solidarity as Iranians, as Canadians, and as compassionate human beings.   

Defending Free Speech and Standing Against Repression

We of the Iranian Canadian Congress value democracy and freedom of expression. Our mandate is “advocating  peace, dialogue, and collaboration between Canada and other nations” and “promoting and strengthening the cross-cultural harmony to advance tolerance, understanding, and goodwill among all segments of the multicultural Canadian society.”  

We have repeatedly expressed concern with the erosion of such fundamental rights in the current political climate. We strongly condemn the recent detention of author and political activist Yves Engler after spurious charges were brought against him, violating his freedom of speech and expression. Yves was targeted due to his relentless work in protesting the ongoing genocide in Palestine.  Meanwhile, according to The Lancet, the killing of over 100,000 people in Palestine continue unabated, and those who dare to resist this injustice face political repression.  

Yves was detained for five days in late February 2025, denied sufficient access to his lawyer, and subjected to conditions intended to silence him—including explicitly being forbidden to speak about his treatment at the hands of the police. Thanks to relentless pressure from his progressive community, Yves was finally released. His courage in standing against genocide while defending liberty and freedom of expression deserves our unwavering solidarity. 

The tactic used against Yves has been applied consistently to suppress dissent and stifle those who stand against war crimes and oppression. Furthermore, the courts and legal system have been weaponized against democratic processes on university campuses. For example, an injunction was recently placed against the Student Society of McGill University after student members voted overwhelmingly in favour of a  Policy Against Genocide in Palestine.  More recently, a lawsuit  was initiated contesting the SSMU Policy Against Antisemitism, which distinguished antisemitism from criticism of Israel and Zionism. The lawsuits came on the heels of the university having threatened to withhold funding from the university organization due to its association with  pro-Palestinian student clubs.  
 
While similar lawsuits have been dismissed due to the flimsy basis of accusations, the continued onslaught against activists brings about a chilling effect. Vocal opponents of genocide such as Yves become cautionary examples for those who would dare speak out. We worry, with legislation such as Bill C-70, that events like this become more common.  
 
We will not be silent in the face of injustice and stand with all those who refuse to be intimidated in their pursuit of truth.

We demand the immediate retraction of the baseless charges against Yves and all those who speak truth to power.

Statement on the International Day of Children’s Rights and the Elimination of Violence Against Women 

On this International Day, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting the rights of children and eradicating violence against women. This day reminds us of the systemic inequalities and injustices that disproportionately harm the most vulnerable—women and children—around the world. These interconnected challenges demand collective action from our governments and institutions. 

Women’s Rights in Iran 

In Iran, women face profound legal and systemic inequalities that deny them basic freedoms and perpetuate cycles of injustice. Discriminatory laws, such as unequal custody rights in divorce cases, deprive women of agency and disproportionately affect their lives. These structural barriers erode women’s dignity and opportunities. 

On the other hand, U.S. sanctions worsen human suffering by restricting access to life-saving medications, including treatments for rare diseases; These sanctions disproportionately harm women and children, further marginalizing the most vulnerable. 

Global Economic and Systemic Violence

Economic violence is the most widespread and harmful form of violence and oppression against women and children. Globally, poverty, labor exploitation, and unequal access to resources deprive billions of their dignity and fundamental rights—including in Iran and even in countries like Canada. 

In Gaza, for the past 14 months, women and children have endured unimaginable suffering amidst what can only be described as a genocide. Relentless bombardments and a devastating blockade have claimed tens of thousands of lives and destroyed homes, schools, and hospitals. Over 70% of casualties are women and children. The denial of basic necessities such as food, water, and medical care has created a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale. Yet, international bodies, including the United Nations, fail to enforce laws that could stop this carnage and protect people. 

Let us use this day as a call to action of our governments and institutions to address these urgent needs and commit to building a future rooted in justice, dignity, and equality where every woman and child can live and thrive in peace and freedom. 

Statement in Support of Student Encampments for Palestine

As of late April, student encampments have sparked up in universities across Canada as part of the global movement in support of Palestine, heeding the call for divestment and echoing a longstanding tradition of student peace activism.  

This brave statement by Canadian students and academics, which has overwhelming support from the broader community, is a positive step towards reaching a just and sustainable peace in Palestine and West Asia. ICC is in full support of this global and grassroots movement and urges academic institutions to support these students in their calls for divestment, which is beneficial to the preservation of the dignity and interests of Iranian Canadians.  

The American Civil Liberties Union, says: 

Freedom of speech, of the press, of association, of assembly and petition — this set of guarantees, protected by the First Amendment, comprises what we refer to as freedom of expression. The U.S. Supreme Court has written that this freedom is “the matrix, the indispensable condition of nearly every other form of freedom”. Without it, other fundamental rights, like the right to vote, would wither and die. 

Freedom of speech should be guaranteed for all citizens—limiting it in universities, which exist for the purpose of creating and discovering knowledge, is especially unreasonable. The broad movement of student encampments is a protest against the continued investment of Canadian academic institutions in the Israeli state—despite the latter’s violation of international laws and Geneva Conventions. Challenging narratives, asking difficult questions, making people uncomfortable—that's the price of living in a democracy. These are not threatening behaviors, as confirmed by the judge who ruled against the injunction against the McGill encampment.  

As Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Chris Hedges put: 

It exposes the abject failure by the ruling elites and their institutions to halt genocide, the crime of crimes. These students watch, like most of us, Israel’s live-streamed slaughter of the Palestinian people. But unlike most of us, they act. Their voices and protests are a potent counterpoint to the moral bankruptcy that surrounds them. 

Violation of international law while ignoring ICJ recommendations and UN Security Council resolutions enables and perpetuates the cycle of violence in the region. We once again urge universities to follow the lead of their academics and students, protect their right to free speech and free assembly, and pay attention to their voice, which calls for peace and freedom for all.