A Letter to Canadian Foreign Affair Minister |
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Iranian Muslim Center in Exile - Canada 9251Yonge
ST #219 Richmond
Hill, ON L4C
9T3 Tel:
(416) 410-8309 Email:
Irankanoun@hotmail.com April
11, 2001 Mr. John Manley Canada
Foreign Affair Minister Parliament
Hill Ottawa, ON K1A 0G2 Fax
(613) 992-7559 Dear
Mr. Manely On
behalf of the Iranian Muslim Center in Exile of Canada, I would like to take
this opportunity to inform you of the latest mass arrest of Iranian activists
called "Melli-Mazhabi" (Nationalist-Religious) On Sun. April 8,
2001 in Tehran, Iran. As
you may be aware, forty people were arrested by the illegal order of a
so-called revolutionary court. They are accused of conspiracy to overthrow
the Islamic State, which carries a punishment of the death penalty. Also,
three weeks ago, thirty "Melli-Mazhabi" were
arrested in a house where they were gathered peacefully. The detainees are
under pressure to confess to crimes they have not committed. They are denied
access to attorneys and are not allowed to talk to their families. The crackdown on student movements,
shutting down so many newspapers keeping journalists and activists in secret
detentions have been increased in recent days. Meanwhile,
Mr."khamenei" the top ruling clergy is supporting violence against
reformists in his speeches. In this situation, although President Khatami
seems to suffer, his silence is questionable. Please
bring this matter to your attention that Canada's active role for the release
of those detainees will not be ignored by the government of Iran because they
need Canada's diplomatic and economical ties. Canada's support for democracy
in Iran will have a positive impact on the Iranian political cycle. The hard
liners in Iran cannot accuse the detainees of serving an anti-Islamic country
contrary to the U.S. government. Thus, Canada should take a more active role
in Iran by putting more pressure on the government of Iran to stop systematic
human rights abuses against their people in the name of God. It
seems a humanitarian obligation for everybody to help Iranians to build a new
era. When the dictators close the
doors, then people will look to find other ways to fight to get their rights
back. We request you to use your influence on the ruling Iranian mullahs to
release all the consciousness prisoners and "Melli-Mazhabi' detainees
immediately. Late
action or ignoring the situation by Canada and Europe will encourage the
government of Iran to continue suppressions and limitations. We
are anxiously waiting for urgent actions by the Canadian government, as a
known democratic country to release of all prisoners of conscious and the
latest detainees from secret detention centers. Yours
truly CC: Mr. Day, Alliance Party Mrs. A. Mcdonaugh, N.D.P. Toronto Star The Globe and Mail National Post Iranian Community Publications Maurice Copithorne, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran Mary Robinson, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Pen Canada Amnesty International |