May 25, 2021
The Honourable Speaker of the House
Government of Canada
Ottawa Ontario Canada K1A 0A6
We, a group of concerned Canadians of Iranian origin from left, right and center (AIC – Alliance of Iranian-Canadians), have recently become aware of an interview in the Persian language made by Federal Liberal Member of Parliament, MP Ali Ehsasi. The interview was conducted by a London-based Persian media source Iran International TV and published on April 30th, 2021.1
MP Ehsasi was introduced as someone who, in the past, has represented, “a forceful stance in expressing the concerns of Iranians inside Iran,” including concerns relating to “executions” and the “rights of religious minorities.”
First, such an introduction is inconsistent with the reality of MP Ehsasi and the Liberal government’s policy on Iran, and thus we are concerned that it is meant to mislead Persian-speaking Iranians. The notion that MP Ehsasi is concerned about human rights violations of the current regime in Iran and the rights of religious minorities was later contradicted in the interview itself. In fact, and as outlined below, MP Ehsasi made statements that ultimately raise security and civil liberties concerns for Canadians of Iranian origin, undermine Canadian sovereignty and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and put the integrity of the Liberal government and Mr. Ehsasi himself into question.
MP Ehsasi has previously advocated for resuming relations with the occupying, kleptocratic regime in Iran,2 despite the fact that the current regime in Iran has no democratic legitimacy, and systematically engages in domestic and international terrorism (including the funding of terrorist groups internationally, making threats against people of Iranian origin living abroad, and intentionally killing at least 52 Canadians of Iranian origin in 2020 alone). We protest MP Ehsasi’s advocacy for the current regime in Iran.
The regime in Iran has been a source of significant instability internationally and has surpassed other countries in the Middle East in limiting freedoms such as freedom of the press and in violating human rights. It has continued to insist that its policy of executing homosexuals is necessary for upholding social morality,3 as is the execution of those who drink alcohol repeatedly4 or those who protest.5 It has engaged in atrocious methods in the treatment of women, including the systematic rape of virgins who were incarcerated just prior to their execution.6 It further has pronounced a policy that women who do not wear Islamic scarves can be raped.7 Its massacre of individuals from the left to right in the 80’s has been recognized by the Parliament of Canada from previous governments as a crime against humanity,8 and its various methods of ethnic and religious cleansing against atheists, minority religions, and irreligious folk are well established.
The regime in Iran has exported its fundamentalism through its agents even to Canadian society. Women of Iranian origin fear the regime when making choices with their own bodies and appearance within Canada’s borders as the Iran regime’s agents levy threats to them in Canada’s borders. The regime in Iran has been reported to intimidate critics and Canadians of Iranian origin in Canada who mourn the death of their loved ones at the hands of the fundamentalist state.9
The regime in Iran came about undemocratically through numerous coups, and purges of legitimate politicians as well as any citizens that were leftist, liberal, secular, or even slightly opposed to their brand of fundamentalism and their small family of clerics.
The regime in Iran is best described as an institution that seeks to enforce Islamic fundamentalism and fanaticism at home and abroad against the will of any individual or nation. It does not recognize dual citizenship and thus Canadians of Iranian origin are, from the regime’s point of view, wards of the Iranian state and subject to its ideological cleansing policies.
Its policies are thus a challenge to Canadian civil liberties, human rights, gender equality, and Canada’s own sovereign right to enforce The Charter of Rights and Freedoms to the benefit of its own citizens.
It is concerning that someone who has advocated for strengthening ties between Canada and this fundamentalist state is now claiming to have been a critic of that state all along, as it is dishonest and misleading to the public.
Although Mr. Ehsasi mentions other minority groups in his constituency of Willowdale, Ontario, in the interview, he nonetheless represents himself explicitly as the voice of Iranians in Iran and Iranian-Canadians as a whole. This is unacceptable and clearly outside of Mr. Ehsasi’s authority as a member of the Liberal government and MP for Willowdale, Ontario. His duties do not extend to all Iranians outside of his constituency, and thus he is not authorized to make representations about all Iranians or Iranian-Canadians.
Further of concern is that he states that there are differing views in the Iranian-Canadian community about the current regime in Iran. Such statements are outside his authority. It is also insensitive and speculative to imply that some Iranian-Canadians support the fundamentalist regime. Other than overt members and supporters of the Iran regime opportunistically residing in Canada, one cannot rely on anecdotes from a group of Canadians who are constantly intimidated and whose family members are subject to arrest in Iran if they, even in Canada, speak against that regime. In a different part of the interview, Mr. Ehsasi admits that Iranian-Canadians are united against the fundamentalist regime, stating that the regime’s track record from the past 42 years speaks for itself and that he is not concerned about Canadians nor Iranian-Canadians supporting such a government.
Mr. Ehsasi makes numerous comments in support of the fundamental regime’s agenda in Canada that are very concerning from a security and civil liberties standpoint.
After being asked about whether he supports the fundamentalist regime’s use of threats against Canadians of Iranian origin through religious events in Canada, he states that it is justified because of multiculturalism (at minutes 06:00 to 07:00 of the interview).
This is simply untrue: no foreign government is permitted to threaten and intimidate Canadians inside Canada. Any religious event in Canada must be organized without foreign influence and without intimidations to Canadians and violations to Canadian sovereignty and the Charter. We condemn the statements of MP Ehsasi and make a list of questions below to the Liberal government to address Mr. Ehsasi’s statements. A letter of complaint by the AIC was sent to Iran International TV and Mr. Ehsasi’s office in the Persian language on May 11, 2021.
Another concerning statement by Mr. Ehsasi is, at minute 08:00, that without an Iranian embassy in Canada, Iranian-Canadians face difficulty in seeing their family members living in Iran. This is not true and is gravely misleading to the public, causing unnecessary frustration in the minds of Iranian-Canadians.
The AIC is aware that Mr. Ehsasi is an advocate for the fundamentalist government of Iran to open an embassy in Canada, despite the fact that it was closed due to its violation of Canadian sovereignty, due to the illegitimate regime seeking to influence Canadians through its embassy. It was closed due to violations of international law. Importantly, just as Iran does not have an embassy in the United States, it does not need one in Canada. In the United States, family members of Iranian-Americans have not had any need for an embassy as the consulate of Iran in the Pakistan embassy has sufficed to provide rather efficient services to address such needs and demands.
Last but not least, Mr. Ehsasi states that Iranians have come to Canada because their “potential” could not be reached in Iran. This is blatantly dishonest. A majority of Iranians have fled Iran to come to Canada as refugees or immigrants due to the Iran regime’s ideological cleansing in Iran. MP Ehsasi insensitively disregards refugees as worthy of his attention, continuing to push Iran’s extreme human rights violations under the rug.
We ask that the Liberal government of Canada respond to our concerns, and specifically respond to the following questions arising from MP Ehsasi’s interview:
1. On what authority did Mr. Ehsasi give an interview to Iran International TV? Was it under a personal capacity or as a representative of the government of Canada?
2. Is the Liberal Government of Canada intending to develop relations with the regime in Iran?
3. If not, how does the Liberal Government of Canada intend to act upon its stance?
4. If so, how does the Liberal Government of Canada justify such a stance given that
the Islamic state of Iran engages in international and domestic terrorism, which has crossed into Canadian borders and affected the rights of Canadians under the Charter?
As concerned members of the public, we request transparency, clarity, and the cessation of secrecy from the Liberal government. We hope to hear from you about these concerns soon.
Thank you,
The Alliance of Iranian-Canadians
[email protected]
