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. 

It is deeply troubling in the time of the genocidal killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians, to witness the suppression of freedom of speech of students and academics, and the threats against political dissidents around the world. 

ICC is heartbroken to see various forms of state violence and takes a stance to condemn any form of intimidation, violence, imprisonment, or criminal prosecution that violates an individual's right to freedom of speech; such as the sentencing of Iranian rapper, Toomaj Salehi, to death; a sentence which we hope will never be executed.  

The ICC strongly believes in the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, ICC advocates for a grassroots-led approach in the fight against violations of human rights instead of foreign interventions in domestic politics in any country.  

ICC emphasizes that any form of sanctions against the Iranian people violates their human rights to pursue a healthy and prosperous life, and therefore we oppose the adoption of any such policies by the Canadian government.  

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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The Green Party's response to questions on topics of Importance for Iranian-Canadians

Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) has sent questions on the topics of importance for Iranian Canadians for the 5 major political parties in federal election 2021 which will be held on September 20th. 

The questions were based on the ICC's survey focusing on the concerns and expectations of its members. The survey shows that issues such as immigration, diplomatic relations, supporting families of victims of the flight PS752, sanctions, and the problem of fugitives are among the top major concerns of the Iranian Canadian community. 

ICC will reflect any and all answers received from the political parties with the Iranian Canadian community to be able to to make an informed decision in the upcoming election.

The New Democratic Party's response to questions on topics of Importance for Iranian-Canadians

Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) has sent questions on the topics of importance for Iranian Canadians for the 5 major political parties in federal election 2021 which will be held on September 20th. 

The questions were based on the ICC's survey focusing on the concerns and expectations of its members. The survey shows that issues such as immigration, diplomatic relations, supporting families of victims of the flight PS752, sanctions, and the problem of fugitives are among the top major concerns of the Iranian Canadian community. 

ICC will reflect any and all answers received from the political parties with the Iranian Canadian community to be able to to make an informed decision in the upcoming election.

Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) has sent questions on the topics of importance for Iranian Canadians for the 5 major political parties in federal election 2021 which will be held on September 20th. 

The questions were based on the ICC's survey focusing on the concerns and expectations of its members. The survey shows that issues such as immigration, diplomatic relations, supporting families of victims of the flight PS752, sanctions, and the problem of fugitives are among the top major concerns of the Iranian Canadian community. 

ICC will reflect any and all answers received from the political parties with the Iranian Canadian community to be able to to make an informed decision in the upcoming election.

The English and French version of the questions already sent for the party leaders and some of their candidates in the ridings with the most populated Iranian Canadians are as follows: