President of Iranian Canadian Congress, Mona Ghassemi has sent the following letter to the Prime Minister of Canada, Foreign affairs Minister and Minister of National defense regarding the US-Israeli war on Iran

https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iraniancanadiancongress/pages/4462/attachments/original/1772651488/Iranian_Canadian_Congress_letter_to_Prime_Minister-Signed.pdf?1772651488

The Iranian Canadian Congress is deeply saddened by and condemns in the strongest possible terms the illegal attacks and declaration of war by the U.S. and Israel against Iran. This flagrant violation of international law is an escalation based on bad-faith negotiations. These negotiations, in which Iran was threatened with war if it did not meet excessive demands, included pressure to give up the right to conventional defense capabilities (its missile defense system) enshrined in article 51 of the UN charter. In the last 48 hours, we know that several government officials were killed, including the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, several of whose family members, including a 14-month-old granddaughter, were not spared. We are devastated to learn of multiple civilian and civilian infrastructure casualties, including hospitals and clinics, medical and humanitarian facilities of the Red Crescent, sports teams and grounds, and schools.  
 
In particular, we unequivocally condemn the horrific bombing of the Shajareh Tayebbeh girls’ elementary school in the Southern Iranian town of Minab, Hormozgan province. This bombing on the morning of Saturday February 28th, the start of the regular work week in Iran, resulted in the untimely deaths of  at least 165 people, most of whom were innocent schoolgirls between the ages of seven and twelve, and injuring 96 more. A total of 170 students attended the school, and the school building itself was almost completely destroyed.  This is a calamity for Minab’s 80,000 residents, for all Iranians, and Canadians of good conscience. 
 
 
UNESCO has called this indiscriminate attack “a grave violation of humanitarian law”. In addition to the tragedy of the innocent lives lost, attacks on educational institutions undermine the right to education. This serious violation exposes the lie that the U.S. and Israel want to “help” the people of Iran. This “help” now comes in the form of bombs that take Iranian children’s lives.  

We do not want to see more innocent lives lost. We demand that the Canadian government take steps to de-escalate the situation through diplomatic means in line with international law, and not participate in this devastating war, which is quickly expanding throughout the region.

The Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) expresses deep concern regarding recent public discourse and policy directions that may contribute to escalating tensions involving Iran and the broader region. ICC firmly opposes any form of war, military intervention, or foreign interference against any sovereign nation.

Experience has shown that sanctions, confrontation, and coercive approaches rarely improve the daily lives of ordinary people and often deepen hardship for civilians and diaspora communities alike. Many Iranian Canadians continue to face uncertainty, prolonged immigration challenges, and social pressures that are intensified during periods of geopolitical tension.

At a time when global instability is increasing, ICC calls for restraint, dialogue, and a renewed commitment to diplomacy. Lasting and legitimate change must emerge through peaceful and democratic processes shaped by the people themselves, not through external pressure or military action.

Iranian Canadians remain deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of their families and loved ones. War brings devastating human, social, and economic consequences whose impacts extend far beyond borders and generations.

Canada has long presented itself as a supporter of peace, multilateralism, and diplomatic engagement. ICC encourages all governments to uphold these principles in practice by promoting de-escalation, restoring channels of communication, and prioritizing peaceful solutions.

As a Canadian organization, ICC affirms the importance of sovereignty, self-determination, and mutual respect among nations. Iranian Canadians who have made Canada their home hope to see policies that reflect compassion, balance, and a commitment to global peace.

ICC therefore calls for:

• De-escalation of tensions and rejection of military solutions
• Respect for international law and national sovereignty
• Restoration of meaningful diplomatic engagement
• Policies that prioritize human security and the well-being of civilians

Peaceful coexistence, mutual understanding, and constructive cooperation remain the only sustainable path forward.

The Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) is devastated and gravely concerned regarding the ongoing spread and escalating severity of criminal threats and acts of violence by extremists against members of the Iranian Canadian community. Iranian Canadians who believe in non-violent, sustainable, and indigenous progress and oppose foreign meddling, war, coup d'état and installation of a foreign puppet monarchy in Iran, as well as those who are visibly Muslim and attending Islamic Centers, have been particularly targeted. We had warned about a coordinated campaign of harassment and violence against Iranian Canadians in a previous ICC statement. 

 Below are only a few examples of harassment and physical violence that have been reported to the Iranian Canadian Congress to date:  

 In British Columbia, an Iranian Canadian political activist who had sued Reza Pahlavi and received a wave of vile death threats from monarchist extremists has gone missing as of February 6th. RCMP officials have stated they believe criminality is involved in the disappearance.  

• In Alberta, a mob of monarchist extremists attacked an Iranian Islamic Centre on February 7th and brutally assaulted two Iranian Canadians in attendance. This incident resulted in the hospitalization of one of the victims and terrorized the entire congregation. Local police department had been alerted in advance of the threats against the specific Islamic Centre and event, yet they ignored the warnings and failed to protect their community. 

• In British Columbia, a senior Muslim woman who volunteers at the local Iranian Islamic Centre was targeted and physically assaulted in January 2026. 

• Many Iranian Canadians have received vile threats of violence including death threats from monarchist extremists since 2025. 

• Multiple Iranian Canadian-owned businesses in the provinces of British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta and Quebec have been threatened and coerced to display the monarchist flag in their stores since January 2026. 

 The ICC reiterates its concerns for the safety and security of the Iranian Canadian community and calls for the protection of their democratic rights to freedom of expression, religion, association and peaceful assembly. We urge the Canadian Department of Justice, RCMP, and local police departments to investigate the coordinated campaign of threats and acts of violence against our community members, take credible threats of violence seriously before they are manifested as acts of violence, and bring violent offenders to justice. 

We express our heartfelt sympathy to all Iranian Canadians during this trying time and look forward to brighter days ahead. 

The Iranian Canadian Congress 

The Iranian Canadian Congress condemns the escalating campaign of targeted harassment, doxing, and professional sabotage directed at Iranian Canadian faculty, researchers, professionals, business owners, and sometimes ordinary people irrespective of profession. Over the past weeks, Iranian individuals who do not publicly align with specific political movements, such as calling for the restoration of the Iranian monarchy, have been targeted for professional and personal ruin, often in repeated cycles. 
 
We have received multiple reports from individuals being doxed and harassed, regardless of their digital footprint. Professionals are being singled out for the mere act of wearing hijab, or for publishing articles and research that cite Iranian, or even Israeli sources that challenge the pro-war narrative. Iranian-owned shops and other businesses are being targeted and threatened with loss of business if they do not display the Iranian monarchist flag. 
 
This is a coordinated effort to create a climate of fear to ensure that Iranian voices, particularly those who advocate for peace or oppose war, are silenced through organized reputational threats and character assassination. 
 
As a grassroots organization, we are doing everything within our means to manage this surge and provide support to those targeted. We urge employers, university chairs, professional associations, and business associations to recognize these influxes of complaints for what they are: a targeted campaign to suppress dissent and intimidate professionals. 
 
To Our Institutional Partners: 
We remain a dedicated resource for the broader community. We invite HR departments, university leadership, and organizational heads to reach out to us directly if you require context or information regarding the safety and well-being of your Iranian staff or colleagues who may be facing these pressures. 

To Our Community:  
We are actively working on programming to address fears and concerns and provide resources to help manage the backlash. We will update members about such programming via our social media channels. Our mental health series on Instagram remains a timely source of tools in the form of expert psychological advice. We also encourage individuals to document any attacks against them and pursue law enforcement and legal channels if relevant. At this moment we also point to the following resources regarding the prevention and management of internet-based attacks:  

https://www.iccongress.ca/educational_tools_against_online_harassment_cyberbullying (past post containing links to multiple resources)  

https://www.equalitylabs.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/EQUALITY-LABS-ANTI-DOXING-GUIDE-FOR-ACTIVISTS-3.0.pdf 
(additional resource) 

Interview of Mona Ghassemi, President of Iranian Canadian Congress with CBC Power & Politics regarding recent protests in Iran

https://youtu.be/Il5AWzeBYaA?si=Ry8Kq4g64OxvHiip

The Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) stands in full solidarity with members of the Iranian community across Canada who gathered peacefully in Ottawa on September 22 to highlight the prolonged processing of permanent residency (PR) applications, particularly the lengthy pauses during background checks, and to call for immediate reforms.

The ICC is deeply concerned about the increasingly difficult path to permanent residency faced by Iranians in Canada. What should be a fair and efficient immigration process has, in recent years, become one of the most pressing challenges for Iranian applicants.

Many who first arrived on study or work permits now face extraordinarily long and complex procedures when applying for PR. Too often, applications remain stalled for months—or even years—at the background check stage without any clear response from immigration authorities.

These prolonged delays impose serious psychological and financial hardship. Students are left in limbo regarding their academic and professional futures, while temporary workers are deprived of job security and the ability to plan long term. The burden is worsened by high processing costs, the need for legal counsel, and banking restrictions linked to international sanctions.

Constant changes in Canada’s immigration regulations and the lack of transparent communication have only deepened confusion and uncertainty. Many Iranian applicants are left feeling unstable, with some even considering migration to third countries or seeking alternative, faster routes to obtain permanent residency.

In light of these challenges, the ICC calls on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to act with justice, fairness, and transparency by:

• Providing clear timelines and regular updates for applicants stuck in prolonged background checks;
• Simplifying and streamlining permanent residency procedures for those already contributing to Canadian society;
• Ensuring that policy changes are communicated openly and in a timely manner to all applicants.

The ICC urges the Government of Canada to respond swiftly and uphold the principles of justice and transparency that Canadians expect and deserve.

Join the email campaign to support Iranian PR Applicants: https://iccongress.good.do/justicetransparencyintheprocessingofprapplicationsforiraniansincanada/

Iranian Canadian Congress expresses its deep concern over the detention of peace and human rights activists aboard the “The Conscience” ship by the Israeli Forces. The seizure blatantly violates international law and defies the ICJ’s binding orders requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.

“The Conscience” ship carried activists from various countries whose goal was to draw the world’s attention to the ongoing and unlawful blockade of Gaza Strip and to call for an end to the transfer of weapons and military support to the State of Israel. Their detention is both legally indefensible and politically alarming. It represents an attempt to silence the global voices of conscience calling for peace, justice, and respect for human dignity.

Iranian Canadian Congress calls for:
1.The immediate and unconditional release of all detainees aboard “The Conscience” ship including 6 Canadian passport holders: Mskwaasin Agnew (ON), Sadie Mees (NL), Nikita Stapleton (NL), Nima Machouf (QC), Devoney Ellis (NL) & Khurram Musti Khan (ON)
2.Full respect for international law and the right to peaceful activism;
3.An immediate halt to the transfer and sale of weapons to Israel, which fuels ongoing occupation and violence;
4.Strong international pressure to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip and guarantee civilians’ access to humanitarian aid.

We urge governments, international bodies, human rights organizations, and global civil society to fulfill their moral and political responsibilities by defending the fundamental rights of the detainees and the Palestinian people.

The voice of justice and freedom cannot be silenced.

Public Statement from the Iranian Canadian Congress

Honoring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
September 30, 2025

The Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) stands in solemn recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Today, we honor the memory of the children who never returned home from Canada’s residential schools, as well as the Survivors, their families, and the communities who continue to carry the intergenerational impacts of the residential school system and the broader legacy of colonial policies.

As Iranian Canadians, many of us came to this country as immigrants, refugees, and newcomers seeking safety, dignity, and opportunity. We acknowledge that our lives and futures here are made possible by the lands and waters of Indigenous Nations whose sovereignty has never been ceded. With this recognition comes a responsibility to learn the truths of Canada’s history, to stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples, and to support reconciliation in both word and action.

The ICC reaffirms its commitment to amplifying Indigenous voices, stories, and leadership. We seek to build solidarity by fostering respectful relationships between the Iranian Canadian community and Indigenous Nations based on dialogue, respect, and mutual care.

We call on all members of our community to take time today to reflect, listen, and learn. Wearing orange, attending community events, engaging in ceremonies, and educating ourselves and our families are meaningful steps toward solidarity and justice.

Truth and reconciliation is not confined to a single day, but is an ongoing responsibility. The Iranian Canadian Congress commits to carrying this responsibility forward through our advocacy, community work, and shared future in Canada.