As we are approaching the fourth anniversary of the downing of Flight PS752 by IRGC missiles, we commemorate the victims of this tragedy as well as those killed this week in the terrorist attack for which ISIS has claimed responsibility in Kerman, Iran. 

As Prime Minister Trudeau rightfully noted in 2020, “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 crucial to acknowledge that the first victims of war and conflict are innocent civilians. Furthermore, as the tragic incident of Flight PS752 has shown, any threat to innocent lives in Iran is also a threat to Canadian lives. 

Tensions are extraordinarily high, with the United States, Iran, and Israel going on the brink of a regional war that would be disastrous for all involved, including civilian populations across the region. 

We urge the government of Canada to condemn this attack and express solidarity with the people of Iran. Acts of terrorism anywhere in the world inherently oppose humanity, morality, and global unity, and are to be strongly condemned. 

The ties between Canadians and Iranians run deep, necessitating that Canada plays a positive role in the region to foster peace and stability. This includes pursuing a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, drawing on Canada's longstanding tradition of mediation and diplomacy. 

In the face of this tragic and devastating event, it is imperative to stand together as a community—united and strong. Let us share our compassion, empathy, and connectedness while sympathizing with the grief-stricken families who have lost their loved ones. 

We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wish recovery for those injured in the terrorist attack. 

Iranian Canadian Congress  

Since the first hours after the earthquake happened in Khoy,Iran, the Iranian Canadian Congress have reached out to several organizations to figure out the best possible ways for Iranian-Canadians to donate and support the victims of the earthquake in Iran. The ICC only works with registered Canadian charities that are helping the earthquake victims through their partnering NGOs and charities in Iran.

PARADISE CHARITY GROUP
Registered Canadian Charity. Tax receipts will be issued for all donations above $20. Please contact them with your full name, address and the receipt of your donation to get the tax receipt. 

Unfortunately, the earthquake that happened in the Khoy region has caused many problems for the people in this area in winter; problems such as a lack of shelter, lack of heating equipment, food and etc. At this stage, the goal is to buy food, heating equipment, blanket, and food baskets.​ ​Paradise charity is ready to collect your donations and deliver them to the earthquake victims; 

For more information, you can contact the following numbers:

Ms. Tahsinzadeh: 9057370487            Ms. Afsharian: 4168973940

How to pay:
Please write in the description for Earthquake

Intract (Etransfer): [email protected]
Donation by credit card: https://paradisecharity.org/donate

Account numbers:
Be sure to email us a photo of the deposit receipt along with an explanation of the earthquake

Scotiabank
Transit# 45922
Account# 0072311

RBC Bank
Transit# 00888
Account# 1017086

The Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) condemns the terrorist attack in Shiraz, Iran.

15 people including a woman and two children have been killed and more than 20 people have also been injured on Oct 26, 2022.

ISIS has claimed responsibility for this terrorist attack.

We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wish speedy recovery for those injured.

مصاحبه دکتر مسلم نوری، رییس کنگره ایرانیان کانادا با رسانه ایران وایر درباره لغو بازی دوستانه ایران و کانادا

بررسی چرایی لغو دیدار دوستانه تیم های فوتبال ایران و کانادا

شروع روابط تیره ایران و کانادا از دهه های اخیر و به خصوص با بستن سفارتخانه‌های دو کشور در سال ۲۰۱۲ همزمان بود. پیش دستی کانادا در اکثر موارد قابل تامل است و نیز هدف قرار گرفتن مردم ایران به جای دولت ایران قابل درک نیست.  سیر حوادث بعد از تعطیلی سفارتخانه‌های دو کشور نقاط تاریکی را در روابط ایران و کانادا به جای گذاشت که همواره بدون حل شدن یک موضوع حادثه دیگری باعث عميق تر شدن این جدایی می گردید. حادثه هدف قرار گرفتن هواپیمای ۷۵۲ نه تنها موجبات درد بزرگی بر پیکره جمعی از بهترین نخبگان ایرانی مهاجر فراهم‌ آورد بل با قضاوتهای بعضا نادرست باز هم به ضرر جامعه ایرانی منجر شد. در اینجا قابل ذکر است که مقامات فدرال کانادا در زمان روی کار آمدن لیبرال ها سعی داشتند که اصلاحاتی در رابطه‌ با حسن روابط دوجانبه با ایران انجام دهند که پس از مدتی با فشار سیاستمداران و احزاب رادیکال عمدتا دنباله رو سیاست های روز ایالات متحده آمریکا نا موفق بیرون آمد. حادثه هواپیمای اوکراینی مهم تر از همه تیر خلاصی بود بر پیکره ناتوان این روابط دوجانبه. 

اما با انجام قرعه کشی جام جهانی فوتبال قطر و همگروه شدن سه تیم ایران آمریکا و انگلیس فرصتی بسیار دیدنی برای رودررو شدن ورزش در مقابل سیاست فراهم آمد.  در  واقع رویدادهای ورزشی از زمان جنگ جهانی دوم همیشه نقطه درگیری با سیاستمداران تندرو و متخاصم بود. مثال های زیادی برای این رویدادهای تاریخی ورزشی وجود دارد که از حوصله این مقاله خارج است. بازی دوستانه دو تیم فوتبال ایران و کانادا می توانست پس از ۲۱ سال که از بازی ها در تورنتو و ادمونتون می گذشت  فرصتی مطلوب برای کنار گذاشتن تخاصم و درک واقیت و قابلیت های رویدادهای ورزشی می بود. شروعی که به هر حال دير يا زود باید برای خارج شدن از یک دور باطل صورت می گرفت.  فرصتی که دو فدراسیون فوتبال شاید بهره کافی از آن نمی بردند أما چه بسا رنگ آرامش به ساز نا کوک روابط بین دو کشور می داد. فرصتی که در این جهان نا آرام و در این برهه تخاصم دولت‌ ها فرصتی طلایی بود. مردم ایران همواره نگاه مغتنمی به شادی جمعی داشته اند فرصتی که از آنان گرفته شد. بدیهی است هر چقدر بخوهیم گودال مشکلات در روابط دو جانبه بین المللی را عمیق تر بکنیم توانایی خروج از آن کمتر محتمل می نماید.  و در انتهای این مقاله یادآوری می کنم: یک بهانه برای برافروختن آتش تنفر کافی است و هزاران امید برای رسیدن به صلح و آرامش کم است.

الکس شفیعی

The Iranian Canadian Congress is extremely disappointed with the decision announced earlier today by Soccer Canada to cancel the scheduled friendly match between Canadian and Iranian national soccer teams on June 5th, 2022. 

As we stated in our earlier statement, we strongly believe that conflating politics with sports by politicians and interest groups contradicts the values espoused by Canada including peaceful coexistence, democracy, and friendship.  

Thousands of Canadians and members of the Iranian Canadian community enthusiastically purchased their tickets in anticipation of this sold-out match. We believe that Soccer Canada owes an explanation to these fans about why this match was cancelled. We also condemn those who try to create an aggressive and divisive atmosphere in Iranian Canadian community, and encourage everyone to promote peace, friendship, and kindness since these are the core values of our community.   

The Iranian Canadian Congress invites everyone to embrace the upcoming World Cup as an opportunity to promote peaceful coexistence and friendship. Together with millions of Canadian and Iranian soccer fans, we will cheer for the success of the Canadian and Iranian national soccer teams in all cities across Canada.  

A friendly soccer match is scheduled between Canada and Iran at the BC Place Stadium (Vancouver) on June 5th ,2022 as part of the preparation games for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.  

Thousands of Canadians and members of the Iranian Canadian community have enthusiastically purchased their tickets in anticipation of this rare and historic match, already sold out. This speaks volume to the fact that vast majority of Canadian and Iranian people favor friendly relationships symbolically captured by these types of events. The word “friendly match” itself symbolizes our people's desire for peace and friendship abroad and at home. 

Friendly international sports competitions have always had the aim of bringing people together. This match symbolizes the wish of the Iranian and Canadian people to come together around the values of sportsmanship, friendship, peace, and solidarity. In this regard, the Iranian Canadian Congress appreciates and supports the decision and the efforts of the Canada Soccer organization in hosting this friendly match. As stated by Canada Soccer: "We believe in the power of sport and its ability to bring people from different backgrounds and political beliefs together for a common purpose.” 

Sports, arts, and cultural events are the channels of interaction and dialogue among civilizations. We strongly believe that conflating politics with sports by politicians and interest groups contradicts the ideals espoused by Canada, including peaceful coexistence, and promotion of democracy and friendship. While such attempts may produce superficial and short-term political gains, eventually the preservation of these intercultural events serves the purpose of conflict reduction, advancement of democracy, and mutual understanding. 

Iranian Canadian Congress welcomes the upcoming friendly match and invites the Iranian and Canadian national teams to observe one-minute silence to initiate the match in respect and memory of Iranian-Canadian victims of flight 752. 

Moslem Noori, the president of the Iranian-Canadian Congress (ICC), says the organization has for years tried to get the government to “resolve this issue,” including through a 2016 petition that garnered more than 16,000 signatures requesting reestablishing of diplomatic relations with Iran.

Another campaign in 2021 also saw Iranian-Canadians email their MPs “asking for easier access to consular services for Iranian Canadians.”

“With this,” Noori told NCM, “hundreds of Iranian-Canadians sent their concerns to MPs.”

Yet, nothing has been done about the issue, even as — or perhaps because — Canada has criticized the Iranian government over human rights violations and has initiated United Nations resolutions against the same. 

Meanwhile, the Canadian government continues to ignore the basic rights of hundreds of thousands of Iranians across the diaspora in Canada and creating more difficulties for those in Iran who are forced to travel to neighboring countries for the simplest of consular and visa-related procedures every year.

Report regarding difficulties of Iranians to deal with the Iranian Interests Section in Washington, D.C., that can leave many in impossible situations by Hamid Moghimi:

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