The Honourable John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism
We are writing to you regarding the new sanctions placed on five Iranians who were accused of planning to assassinate the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Washington D.C., as well as Mr. Mahmoud Reza Khavari, whose name came up in the recent $3 billion defalcation scandal in Iran.
For the past few years human rights activists and other groups of Iranian-Canadians have expressed concern over the alarming number of immigrants to Canada who abuse the immigration procedures and move to this country with highly questionable connections to the Iranian regime and with unusual wealth, which–given the current situation in Iran–are hardly attainable via legitimate economic means. Media have reported transactions where millions of dollars have been transferred between Iran and Canada without any proper screening. Similarly, many people have taken oath of citizenship while holding a government position in Iran.
Many human rights activists have communicated with the Canadian government and their local MPs, warning the officials that Iran’s nuclear case should not overshadow the priority of attending to human rights grievances in that country. Since the contested presidential elections of 2009, Iranian-Canadian human rights activists have advised the government to place tough sanctions against those involved in human rights violations in Iran. As an example, in May 2010, the signatories of this petition submitted a letter to the then-Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Hon. Lawrence Cannon, in which they warned about the aforementioned abuses and asked the officials in Ottawa to prevent Canada from becoming a safe haven for those involved in torture, rape, and murder of the Iranian people. That letter brought attention to the fact that the current policies prioritize human rights abusers within the Iranian government over human rights activists escaping torture, and scholars with ties to the Iranian civil society. While the human rights abusers have been welcome for their ill-gotten sums of money, the latter have been denied entry for their inability to prove enough ties to Iran. In his response to May 2010 letter, The Hon. Lawrence Cannon, emphasized the commitment of the Canadian government to human rights principles and notified the signatories of his having forwarded the letter to the Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and Multi-culturalism.
Of the most pressing concern is the report that Mr. Mahmoud Reza Khavari, the former CEO of Bank Melli Iran, has fled Tehran for Toronto. In doing so he has taken advantage of his Canadian citizenship that he acquired while keeping substantial ties to the Iranian administration. He is a former top official of Bank Sepah, blacklisted by the U.N. in 2007. Mr. Khavari is believed to own various properties in Canada, including but not limited to a $3.5-million mansion in Toronto. He has reportedly acquired the ownership of eight travel agencies for his son.
The signatories of this letter are alarmed by the apparent confusion of priorities within the decision-making circles at Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The department rapidly reacted to the news on the Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador to Washington. While this reaction to such a suspect case might be justified by the trust and the good relations between Canada and its American ally, it does not stand the test of scrutiny and reason when it is compared to the department’s closing its eyes to those who committed murder, torture, and rape of the Iranian citizens. One should remember that Mr. Arbab-Siar and his possible Iranian recruiters never had the chance to conduct the alleged plot, but the evidence on the human rights abuses after the contested Iranian election is abundant and indeed confirmed by Canada’s allies in the European Union and North America. Canada did not accompany its allies in placing sanctions against human rights violators in Iran. In response to Mr. Arbab-Siar’s case, Canada has put in place restriction on individuals with alleged ties to sources of terrorism. However, many who are accused of human rights violations or with substantial ties to the Iranian government still travel freely between Iran and Canada, and within the Canadian territory as well. No limit has been placed on these individuals and their communication with Canadian citizens. Despite growing number of people connected to the regime obtaining their citizenship, many Iranian students who are struggling to get into Canada. Journalists and human rights activists, who sought asylum in Canada–especially after the 2009 presidential elections–were having great difficulty to have their request processed. Even human rights activists and artists who want to raise awareness in Canada were barred from entering the country for ‘lack of ties to Iran’ (since they escaped from Iran and live elsewhere).
In light of this situation, it is safe to conclude that Canada’s treatment of the Iran file has been at best inconsistent. It raises questions for Iranian-Canadians about Ottawa’s commitment to human rights principles in foreign affairs. These are principles upheld by other nations and widely respected in the past half-century and leave little space for desultory decisions. Canada should reaffirm its commitment to these standards of diplomacy.
Honourable Ministers:
Mr Khavari is only one example of the people living in Canada while keeping connections to the Iranian regime. We believe that there exist many more like him who take advantage of their Canadian citizenship. Many use Canada for investment, and as a safe haven for the day when the democratic movement of the Iranian people succeeds, fearing that when such a day comes they will be held accountable for their role in oppressing the Iranian people.
The signatories herein respectfully ask the Canadian government that it:
- Launch an investigation to find out how Mr. Mahmoud Reza Khavari and his family were able to attain citizenship, whether he was eligible for Canadian citizenship at the time of acquirement and the level in which he was tied to Iranian intelligence and military apparatus. As we are aware Mr. Khavari held full-time government job in Iran up until his last entry to Canada.
- Investigate similar cases of immigration of Iranian officials to Canada, their eligibility, their sources of income, the amount of money they transferred to Canada, their tax records, their financial activities and their connection to human rights abuses in Iran.
- Place a ban on travel and freeze the assets of those who were connected to human rights violations in Iran, similar to the restrictions on individuals connected to the Iranian nuclear program. Because of the presence of large numbers of such individuals in Canada, these restrictions should be similar but more extensive than those imposed by the United States and the European Union on Iranian human rights violators.
The undersigned are ready to help the Canadian government remain loyal to the principles of justice, human rights, honesty, and transparency.
Sincerely,
Students for Iranian Green Movement Association (SIGMA)-Victoria, BC
Student Green Movement of Vancouver (SGMV), Vancouver, BC
Solidarity with Iran’s Democratic Movement-Edmonton (SIDME), Edmonton, AB
Ottawa Green Path, Ottawa, ON
Regina Green Students, Regina, SK
CC: Nycole Turmel, Leader of the Official Opposition
Hon. Bob Rae, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
Elizabeth May, Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands
Don Davies, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Kingsway
Hélène Laverdière, Member of Parliament for Laurier—Sainte-Marie
Kevin Lamoureux, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North
Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, Member of Parliament for Beauséjour
André Bellavance, Member of Parliament for Richmond—Arthabaska
Jean-François Fortin, Member of Parliament for Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia
Denise Savoie, Member of Parliament for Victoria
Randall Garrison, Member of Parliament for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca
One year after Iran election fraud, western governments still miss the point
By Setareh Danesh
Last week marked the first anniversary of the fraudulent Iranian elections on June 12, 2009, and the shaping of what has come to be known as the Green Movement. This time last year, the world was watching brave acts of nonviolent resistance, and suppression which no word is violent enough to describe.
On June 13, 2009, tens of thousands of protesters poured onto the streets asking “Where is my vote?” On June 14, plainclothes militia, the Basij, attacked the University of Tehran, Isfehan, and Shiraz dormitories, murdering at least five students. June 15 was a day of silent demonstration for three million people in Tehran, which ended with the Basij opening fire on protesters from the rooftop of a mosque.
On June 16, the staff of a nearby hospital protested against the number of deaths by bullet wounds and the fact that the injured and the bodies of the dead were being forcefully removed from the hospital. The demonstrations continued in the days following until the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, held Tehran’s Friday prayers on June 19, threatening people with further bloodshed. Sure enough, on June 20, we not only witnessed more protests, but the painful death of a 27-year-old student, Neda Agha-Soltan, as she stared at the cellphone camera recording her, dying with her eyes open.
Despite the vicious crackdown that followed after, the Green Movement has been standing strong for a year now. The 70 percent of the Iranian demographic which is under the age of 30 has a strange ability to survive the arrests, tortures, and rapes through the world of information and technology. And this alone has caused enough structural blows to the Islamic Republic that the nuclear issue, at least in the past year, has been the least of its concerns.
And as usual, western governments, and the G8 and the UN Security Council, are missing the point. The sanctions on Iraq and Libya never worked and only caused humanitarian crises, and of course the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are still not working. However, it seems as if all political discussions on Iran are forever destined to be confined to the nuclear issue, leaving us with only two options: sanctions or war. Or, in other words, to kill civilian populations slowly through starvation, or promptly with bombs.
If there is one entity that can prevent the Iranian government from producing nuclear weapons, it is Iranian civil society. In a country where we are witnessing the region’s single most progressive student, worker, feminist, and environmentalist movements, now all active under the political umbrella of the Green Movement, the only object of fear for Khamenei and his puppet government is the Iranian people. And the best possible solution for them to steer out of their current crisis of legitimacy is for a military attack to be imposed on Iran, so that they can align the people against a foreign enemy, and silence all domestic dissidence under the label of treason.
After all, this is precisely what was done during the eight-year Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, when western governments threatened by the Islamic revolution supported Iraq in the war and sanctioned Iran. This single-handedly intensified Ayatollah Khomeini’s domestic support as a result of wartime nationalism, which further allowed him to execute some 10,000 political dissidents, and guarantee the establishment’s power until at least another generation.
And today, we are the other generation. Last week, there were protests in over 90 cities around the world, including Vancouver and Victoria, in solidarity with the Iranian Green Movement. If western governments manage to not miss the point again, there are many opportunities for the world’s nations and states to support the Iranian people and allow the regime to deteriorate from within. But, if they do miss it, we shall soon be witness to a western-backed Israeli attack which will destroy Iranian civil society and crush all hopes for a democratic, non-nuclear Iran.
Victoria, BC.
Majid Tavakoli
Majid Tavakoli is a vocal critic of the religious dictatorship in Iran. He was arrested for speaking out against the government’s brutal practices, and for insulting the nation’s political leaders. Despite repeated physical and psychological torture, Majid has refused to give a false confession (the state-run media often broadcast forced confessions to discredit dissidents).
Majid has become an important symbol of opposition, eloquently arguing against the legitimacy of the nations religious authority, and making a principled, dignified stand against the brutality he is forced to endure.
Unable to get a confession through physical torture, his captors resorted to psychological methods. Forcing him into women’s clothing, they took humiliating pictures of Majid and published them in the national media.
Within hours, people across Iran, and across the world, responded. If the aim of this cruelty had been to alienate Majid, and to crush his spirit, it had failed miserably. Thousands posted pictures of themselves, posed as Majid had been forced to pose.
The message: Majid, you are not alone.
Since then, the severity of the situation has increased. Majid has been sentenced to over 8 years in prison, and his physical, psychological, and emotional torture continue daily.
On the 23d of May, upon being transfered to solitary confinement, Majid declared a dry hunger strike in protest – no food, no water.
We’re here today because we believe people like Majid should not have to stand alone. Stand with us, help us give Majid a voice.
What you can do:
Step 1) Go to the Iranian judiciary website and voice your support for Majid. Let’s make sure these tyrants know that the world is watching.
The contact form for the head of the Iranian judiciary, Sadeqh Larijani, can be found at http://www.dadiran.ir/tabid/75/Default.aspx.
Once there, you can either copy-and-paste the letter below, or you can voice your concerns in your own words.
The page is in Farsi, so you have to fill in the starred fields in this way:
- First starred field > Your First Name
- Second starred field > Your Last Name
- Third starred field > Your Email Address
- In the large field you have to paste the text of the letter:
I am deeply concerned about the condition of Majid Tavakkoli. He’s detained since 5 months and a half, the most part spent in solitary confinement. He has been sentenced to 8 years and a half of jail. For unknown reasons he has lately been sent to solitary confinement cell again, in ward 240 of Evin prison, and he is now on hunger strike (that includes food and water) until he will be transferred back to the general ward of the prison.
According to reports, over the past week, Majid Tavakoli’s health deteriorated to the point where he could not speak properly and he was sent to the prison clinic on a few occasions.
I’ve right to believe that he is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. I consider you, your Excellency, reponsible for what is happening to Majid Tavakoli: his unjust detention and the ill-treatments he suffered, as well as his deteriorated health conditions. Therefore I urge you to ensure his immediate and unconditional release, and order a prompt and impartial investigation into reports that he has been beaten during arrest.
Yours sincerely,
[[ Your name ]]
[[ Your country ]]
Step 2) Go to the Canadian foreign affairs website and voice your concerns to Minister Lawrence Cannon. Let’s make sure Ottawa know’s we support action against Iran’s dismal human right’s record.
The contact form for the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Cannon, can be found at http://www.international.gc.ca/common/form-formulaire.asp?subject=Other&form=1.
Once there, you can either copy-and-paste the letter below, or you can voice your concerns in your own words.
I am writing to appeal to you to do everything in your power to obtain the immediate and unconditional release of Majid Tavakoli, an Iranian student leader detained in Evin prison (Tehran) since the 7 december 2009. He was arrested after giving a public speech in Amirkabir University of Tehran. He has been tortured and he has spent months in solitary confinement. In the meantime, he was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months of jail. Recently (without any reason) he has sent again to a solitary confinement cell in section 240 of Evin prison. After his transfer, Tavakoli declared a hunger strike (that includes food and water) until he is transferred back to the general ward of the prison.
According to reports, over the past week, Majid Tavakoli’s health deteriorated to the point where he could not speak properly and he was sent to the prison clinic on a few occasions.
Tavakoli is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. His detention is illegal, his trial has been unfair, his health conditions are now poor. That’s why I consider that international community should be mobilized to urge Iranian authorities to release him (as well as all the other prisoners of conscience now detained in Iran), and to stop the continuous and gross violations of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
February 11th 1979, known as 22 Bahman 1357 on the Persian calendar, is marked in history as the day of the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. The ’79 revolution which was a result of consistent protests since the summer of 1978 is however rooted in a struggle for democracy for as long as a century now, beginning with the Iranian constitutional revolution of 1906. By February 11th, 1979, Iran had witnessed decades of American and British involvement, monarchic repression, bloodshed, and resistance. This was the day on which the Iranian military declared itself neutral, the provisional government installed by the Shah collapsed, and the revolutionaries took over government buildings; the day on which Iranians recorded their victory against despotism and realized the possibility for a free democratic society.
Thirty years later, a new generation of Iranians with a demographic of 70 percent under the age of 30, began the widespread questioning of the legitimacy of a government far from the ideals of the revolution. The June 12th elections in Iran were massively protested as rigged while millions poured to the streets to ask: “where is my vote?”. Faced with brutal repression for over seven months now, the demands of the Iranian people have grown with each protest as they fight not only for their democratic rights, but also their civil and human rights including right to justice. During the 274 days of what has come to be known as the green movement, over 90 persons have lost their lives in protests, in dormitory attacks, and under torture. On Thursday January 28th, two persons were executed for their alleged participation in the movement. Thousands have been arrested, and beaten in the streets and in prison, while reports of rape are uncounted.
In this terrorizing political atmosphere, the endurance and strength of a nation in its path to democracy remains unchallenged. In the year 2010, on February 11th, the world will once again watch the people of Iran retake the streets in memory of a day that thirty one years before, promised them freedom. On this day, the Students for Iranian Green Movement Association (SIGMA) of Victoria, voices its solidarity with the people of Iran, and purposes the following solutions as the primary steps through which the government of Iran should respond to the people.
The initial five articles are extracts of opposition candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi’s 17th statement, with which SIGMA finds itself in congruence:
- The administration should be held liable in front of the people, the parliament and the judiciary system so that there would be no unusual supports for the administration in response to its incompetence and ineffectiveness, and the administration be held accountable for all the problems it created for the country.
- The legislation of new and clear election laws in a way that it would regain people’s trust in the free and fair elections without meddling and interference. This law should ensure the participation of all the people despite their differences in opinions and views and should prohibit the biased and partisan interference of the authorities in all levels.
- The release of all political prisoners and restoring their dignity and honour.
- The release of the banned press and media, an end to satellite signal jamming and internet censorship, and freedom of press including for the national television and radio.
- Recognizing people’s rights for having legal demonstrations and forming parties and groups and abiding to the 27th principle of the constitution.
To this list SIGMA adds:
- Establishing an independent judiciary to prosecute the perpetrators of the post-elections crimes, and ensuring that the Guardian Council is politically independent of the government; that the judiciary and the Council are not simply instruments of the government where its powers are weak otherwise is essential.
- Opening universities to academic and non-ideological education, respecting students’ rights to education regardless of their political and religious beliefs, and putting an end to the harassment and arbitrary arrests of politically active students.
- Establishing a legal framework for gender equality, adhering to the rights of women’s groups such as the Mourning Mothers, and respecting minority rights in general.
In condemnation of the lack of the above listed basic necessities of a democratic society, and in condemnation of the brutal state violence perpetrated in the post-elections months, SIGMA warns the Iranian government that:
First, the demands of the people of Iran were much more preliminary on June 12th. With the authorities’ incompetent response, in their violent suppression, their inadequate address of elections fraud, and their prevarications in a dismal hope that the people will forget, the people’s demands have increased at each stage of the protests. Should the authorities continue on this path of non-decision-making and suppression, our demands and expectations will continue to rise and we will not simply relinquish.
Second, the abuse and harassment of rural and economically poorer populations in order to promulgate non-existing support for the government is not only disheartening and unethical, but a strategy bound to fail. Following the Ashura protests, the government’s offering of simple meals such as cookies and juice to hungry groups of people in exchange for their participation in pro-government rallies, is only signs of last breaths. SIGMA hereby urges the government to simply respond to the demands of the people and perhaps utilize its resources for a sound economic policy, rather than the exploitation of the poor in its pretence to legitimacy; the latter is only a weak band-aid to a deeply structural wound.
Finally, the green movement has foundationally been formulated on peaceful and non-violent basis. While SIGMA calls for remaining true to such ideals, it warns the Iranian authorities that faces soaked in blood and police patrols running over live bodies, are what cause a people to engage in violence. Setting police bikes on fire and stone throwing are the only means of an unarmed people to protect themselves against gunshots, batons, and tear gas. We hereby call on the Iranian authorities both in high levels of government, and the police, security, basij, and military forces on the ground to prevent the escalation of violence.
In the hope of freedom and democracy, a hope that 31 years ago today, we believed that we had realized.
