Canada has strongly denounced the killing of one of its citizens by Iranian authorities and called for an end to the ongoing repression in Iran amid widespread protests against the regime. Foreign Minister Anita Anand confirmed the death and expressed concern over the Iranian regime’s disregard for human life in the face of peaceful protests by the Iranian people demanding their voices be heard. Anand emphasized the need for an immediate halt to the violence perpetrated by the Iranian regime.
The victim’s identity and specific details surrounding the killing, such as the time and location, have not been disclosed by either Anand or the Canadian foreign ministry. The G7 foreign ministers, in a joint statement issued in Ottawa, have warned of potential additional sanctions if Iran continues its crackdown on protests and dissent, violating international human rights obligations. The ministers expressed deep alarm at the reported deaths and injuries, condemning the use of violence, killings of protestors, arbitrary detentions, and intimidation tactics by Iranian security forces.
The news of the Canadian citizen’s death coincided with US President Donald Trump’s threat to take action against Iran if violence against protesters persists. Trump claimed to have received assurances that the killings would cease, while Iran denied issuing a death warrant for a protester facing imminent execution. The United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner, Volker Turk, called for an end to the killing of peaceful demonstrators and criticized the labeling of protesters as ‘terrorists’ to justify violence against them. Reports indicate that hospitals in Iran are overwhelmed by casualties, including children, with human rights groups estimating over 2,500 deaths despite challenges in obtaining accurate figures due to communication restrictions.
The Canadian foreign ministry has urged its 3,054 citizens and permanent residents in Iran to leave the country. This call for departure comes in the wake of historical incidents, such as the 2003 death of Iranian-Canadian freelance photographer Zahra Kazemi while in custody in Tehran.
