Ahead of the Canada Federal Election 2025, Dr. Saideh Khadir, President of Iranian Canadian Congress has sent letters to all political parties asking for clarification on their policies. 

You can see here the letter sent to the Green Party of Canada and The Green Party letter responding to ICC's questions. 

As communicated previously with you, the next ICC annual general meeting (AGM) will be held on May 4 from 1 PM ET (10 AM PT) through a videoconferencing platform. Please note that only ICC members who have joined/renewed their membership by April 25, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET will be entitled to attend the upcoming AGM and vote in the election.  

Here, we like to provide the following updates on the upcoming ICC election and AGM: 

• We would like to correct the nomination deadline from April 10, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET to April 17, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET. 
• We would like to ask members who unsubscribed from emails to join our mailing list in order to get the AGM link and AGM updates. 
• All minutes of the Board of Directors meetings are updated and you can see them on our website. 

For any membership questions, you may contact [email protected]. 

Further details such as instructions for attending the AGM, the link for online voting, and the AGM videoconferencing will be shared with the members in future communications. 

Iranian Canadian Congress

The ICC board of directors is pleased to announce that the next ICC annual general meeting (AGM) will be held on May 4 from 1 PM ET (10 AM PT). The meeting will be held on a videoconferencing platform.   

An online election will also be held for the 7 available seats in the ICC board of directors. We encourage all interested members to consult with Section 2 of Article 5 of the ICC by-laws for nomination eligibility, and if eligible, declare their nomination by sending an email to [email protected]. The deadline for sending nomination emails is April 17, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET. The email must include and attach the following:  

• A confirmation by the nominee that he or she has nominated himself or herself, or that he or she has been nominated by others and has accepted such nomination, for election to the ICC board of directors;  
• A confirmation by the nominee that he/she meets the eligibility criteria, as set out in Section 2 of Article 5 of the ICC by-laws;  
• A government-issued ID; and  
• A synopsis of the nominee’s background/biographical sketch and the reasons they wish to serve as a director on the ICC board of directors (maximum 300 words in English. Farsi is optional. This information is to be provided in MS Word or pdf file format). A passport size photo of the nominee in digital format is also optional. Information and the photograph provided by the nominees will be posted on the ICC website.  

Please note that only ICC members who have joined/renewed their membership by April 25, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET will be entitled to attend the upcoming AGM and vote in the election. For any membership questions, you may contact [email protected].  

• In the upcoming election, members will choose seven board members. The election will be held online, starting and ending prior to the AGM. Members will receive a link through email to participate in the election after April 25th. Election results will be announced at the AGM.  
• The ICC board of directors has selected an election committee, consisting of three ICC members, to oversee the election process. These individuals are Mr. Ahmad Ehsandar, Mr. Habib Ghaffari, and Mr. Reza Namdari. 

Further details such as instructions for attending the AGM, the link for online voting, and the AGM videoconferencing will be shared with the members in future communications. 

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.

8 Mars 2025: 

بیانیه کارگروه زنان کنگره ایرانیان کانادا به مناسبت روز جهانی زن

بیانیه کارگروه زنان کنگره ایرانیان کانادا به مناسبت روز جهانی زن - Iranian Canadian Congress

25 November 2024: 

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

Statement on the International Day of Children’s Rights and the Elimination of Violence Against Women - Iranian Canadian Congress

9 May 2023: 

ICC statement condemning harassment of women in the work place

ICC statement condemning harassment of women in the work place - Iranian Canadian Congress

28 September 2022:

Statement on the recent Iran protests September 2022

Statement on the recent Iran protests September 2022 - Iranian Canadian Congress

20 September 2022:

Statement on horrific death of Mahsa Amini

Statement on horrific death of Mahsa Amini - Iranian Canadian Congress

8 March 2021: 

ICC’s Art Project 1400: New Beginnings

https://www.iccongress.ca/new-beginnings

8 March 2021:

1400 Art Project - Fatemeh Sereshti

1400 Art Project - Fatemeh Sereshti - Iranian Canadian Congress

8 March 2016:

International Women's Day

International Women's Day - ICC Test Website

8 March 2015:

Happy Women's Day

Happy Women's Day - ICC Test Website

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

شکایت دکتر آرزو خدیر علیه «مداد» و شهرام یزدان‌پناه

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 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