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e-4628 (Foreign affairs)
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the Government of Canada
- On September 16, 2022, Mahsa Amini, a 22-years-old woman, was killed by the morality police of Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI). Her death sparked the nationwide “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests calling for democracy and equal rights for all genders, races, ethnicities, opinions, and beliefs;
- IRI authorities are using the death penalty as a weapon of repression to end the protests and cling to power. Since September 2022, they have killed more than 500 protesters, arrested thousands, tortured detainees, and arbitrarily executed at least seven young protesters following grossly unfair trials. Currently more than 30 individuals are under threat of imminent execution;
- These executions are designed by the Iranian authorities to send a strong message to the world and the people of Iran that they will stop at nothing to crush and punish dissent. In the absence of a robust international response, the authorities will continue to revel, unabated, in their impunity with lethal consequences for people in Iran; and
- In the face of the Iranian authorities’ unrelenting use of the death penalty, the mere act of denouncing these executions is not enough. People in Iran are being arbitrarily deprived of their lives at a horrific rate under the guise of judicial executions.
Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Rob Oliphant
As a founding member of the International Criminal Court, Canada supports the Court’s efforts to hold to account those most responsible for serious international crimes, and its role in the fight against impunity. Canada condemns the Iranian regime’s violence against its own people, their blatant disregard for human rights, and their application of the death penalty. Canada unequivocally opposes the use of the death penalty in all cases, everywhere. The death penalty is a form of punishment that is incompatible with human rights and human dignity. Canada will continue to press the Iranian regime to address the legitimate grievances of its people, including respecting their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and their ability to live and prosper in a society free from state-sponsored fear, suppression, intimidation, and violence. This is why Canada has taken significant action against the Iranian regime.
Since October 3, 2022, Canada has announced 17 rounds of sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations (the Regulations) and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Officials Act (JVCFOA) to target individuals and entities for their participation in Iran’s gross and systematic human rights violations, state-led disinformation activities or nuclear program, or in relation to its ongoing breach of international peace and security. As of March 2024, there area total of 197 individuals and 248 entities are listed under the Regulations and the JVCFOA. These measures forbid Canadians from dealing in the property of any listed person, and as a result, all of the individuals’ or entities’ assets in Canada are effectively frozen. Canada’s most recent measures, announced on March 7, 2024, amended the Regulations to list two individuals in relation to Iran’s gross and systematic violations of human rights, in particular those of women and girls.
In November 2022, Canada designated Iran as a regime that has engaged in terrorism and gross and systematic human rights violations under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. This designation rendered tens of thousands of senior members of the Iranian regime, including many members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, inadmissible to Canada.
For 21 consecutive years, Canada has led the United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolution on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This resolution is a key component of international efforts to maintain pressure on Iran and underscore our solidarity with the people of Iran as they demand truth, justice, and full respect for their human rights. This resolution was most recently adopted in December 2023 (78Y:30N: 68A) with 50 cosponsors.
In November 2022, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) hosted a special session to establish an Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) on Iran, which would exist until the end of the fifty-fifth session of the Human Rights Council on March 31, 2024, to investigate the significant deterioration of human rights in the country since nationwide protests began on September 16, 2022, following the killing of Jina Mahsa Amini, specifically considering the experiences of women and children. As an official observer state, Canada is working with member states at the 55th session of the HRC to secure support for an extension to the FFM’s mandate. At this same session, Canada is working with member states to ensure the renewal of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran. Canada’s efforts in multilateral forums continuously condemn in the strongest possible terms the Iranian regime’s imposition and carrying out of the death penalty.
In December 2022, Canada also voted with Member States of the UN Economic and Social Council to successfully remove Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women for the remainder of its 2022-2026 term. This responded to the call to action by Iranian women and girls and sought to ensure the preeminent global body of women’s empowerment remained credible.
Canada will continue to support the Iranian people as they courageously fight for a better future and for the right to make their own choices.
- Open for signature
- October 11, 2023, at 4:28 p.m. (EDT)
- Closed for signature
- December 10, 2023, at 4:28 p.m. (EDT)
- Presented to the House of Commons
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Bardish Chagger
(Waterloo)
February 14, 2024 (Petition No. 441-02167) - Government response tabled
- April 8, 2024
