QUESTION PERIOD — Foreign Affairs
Human Rights in Iran
June 22, 2020
In another example of authoritarian regimes, it has also been reported that the Iranian regime began a new wave of executions in April, including some who are under the age of 18 at the time of their arrest. This month, there have also been multiple reports of flogging of peace activists and political prisoners.
Senator Gold, has your government had anything to say about this recent surge of human rights abuses by the Iranian regime? When the Prime Minister met with the Iranian foreign minister in February, embracing him and shaking his hand, did he raise the Iranian regime’s human rights record or their brutal treatment of protesters?
Thank you for your question. Our relationships with Iran are also fraught with difficulty and challenges, including the ongoing challenge of obtaining justice for the Canadian victims of the Flight PS752 tragedy, which occupied a fair amount of attention and continues to.
With regard to your question, the government has long been an advocate, demanding that Iran live up to human rights obligations. We developed the draft resolution at the UN in November 2019, calling on Iran to comply with international human rights obligations. The government deeply opposes Iran’s support for terrorist organizations, its threats not only towards Israel, but its efforts to destabilize the region, its support for a ballistic missile program, and of course, its support for the murderous Assad regime in Syria.
I’m advised that the government will continue to promote basic human rights and hold Iran to account for its actions.
Honourable senators, the time for Question Period has expired.
