The Canadian government has begun negotiations to open the Iranian Embassy in Ottawa, which has been closed since 2012 when then Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s administration cut ties with Tehran and expelled Iranian diplomats from Canada. We have started a petition to encourage the Canadian government to ONLY open the Iranian Embassy in Ottawa under specific conditions.
Petition to the Government of Canada
Whereas:
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Iran is detaining and imprisoning Canadian citizen Homa Hoodfar and Canadian resident Saeed Malekpour;
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Iran continues to execute minors in contravention of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Iran has ratified;
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The Parliament of Canada unanimously adopted a motion recognizing the mass murder of thousands of political prisoners in Iran in the summer of 1988 as constituting crimes against humanity under international law, and whereas many of the figures alleged to have carried out such crimes remain active in various branches of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including its current Minister of Justice, Mostafa Pourmohammadi;
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Iran systemically persecutes and denies education and basic rights to the Baha’i population;
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Iran funds terrorist groups and calls for the destruction of Israel; and
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Iran is selective in compliance with the Geneva Convention on Diplomacy which would put at risk the security and protection of Canadian Foreign Service employees.
We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:
1. Call for the immediate release and return to Canada of Dr. Homa Hoodfar and Saeed Malekpour;
2. Not consider re-opening the consulate of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Ottawa without these assurances; and
3. Make human rights the benchmark from which to consider re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Iran.
