21 Canadian Parliamentarians from all five political parties and both the House of Commons and the Senate, have signed an open letter calling for Iran to halt its persecution of Baha’is.
The letter was published in The Hill Times, a newspaper that reaches political leaders, public servants, and others working on public policy in the national capital.
It states, “Under the cover of the coronavirus pandemic, Iranian authorities have targeted dozens of Bahá’ís for persecution, threatened to “uproot” the community, initiated new prison sentences, and extended a media campaign of hatred. This targeted persecution must stop.”
The Baha’i International Community’s United Nations office reported that at least 71 Baha’is have been targeted in recent weeks – part of a new wave of religious persecution of Baha’is. In Shiraz, 40 Baha’is were summoned to court, and one was sentenced to 13 years in prison. The motivation for these actions were revealed in a threat made by a court official to “uproot” the Baha’is in that city.
In the Parliamentarians’ open letter, they also draw attention to “growing anti-Baha’i propaganda spread in the news,” and risks to the safety of Baha’i prisoners of conscience held in unsanitary conditions amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
“As Canadians and members of a global community, it pains us to see our brothers and sisters languishing in prisons, facing falsified charges, with no legal recourse,” they write.
The letter closes by calling on Iranian authorities “to order the release of all prisoners of conscience, as well as the end of the ongoing maneuvers of intimidation and repression levelled against the Baha’i community.”
A full list of signatories is provided below. It includes Parliamentarians who serve as Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, Chair of the Standing Committee on International Trade, and Chair of the Standing Committee on Health.
Download the full letter here: English, French, Persian.
NOTE: News article updated June 29, 2020 and August 10, 2020 with the addition of several signatories
Signatories to the open letter:
Ziad Aboultaif
Member of Parliament for Edmonton Manning, Alberta
Shadow Minister for Digital Government
James Bezan
Member of Parliament for Selkirk – Interlake –Eastman, Manitoba
Shadow Minister for National Defence
Vice-Chair, Standing Committee on National Defence (NDDN)
Kelly Block
Member of Parliament for Carlton Trail – Eagle Creek, Saskatchewan
Shadow Minister for Public Services and Procurement
Co-Chair, Canadian Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (CANFoRB)
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe
Member of Parliament for Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec
Critic for International Cooperation, International Francophonie and National Defence
Vice-Chair, Subcommittee on International Human Rights (SDIR)
Marc Dalton
Member of Parliament for Pitt Meadows – Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Kerry Diotte
Member of Parliament for Edmonton Griesbach, Alberta
Member, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE)
Ali Ehsassi
Member of Parliament for Willowdale, Ontario
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
The Honourable Dr. Hedy Fry, P.C.
Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre, British Columbia
Member, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE)
Leah Gazan
Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre, Manitoba
Garnett Genuis
Member of Parliament for Sherwood Park – Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism and Canada-China Relations
Member, Subcommittee on International Human Rights (SDIR)
Matthew Green
Member of Parliament for Hamilton Centre, Ontario
Anthony Housefather
Member of Parliament for Mount Royal, Quebec
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour
The Honourable Mobina S.B. Jaffer, Q.C.
Senator for British Columbia
Michael Levitt
Member of Parliament for York Centre, Ontario
Chair, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE)
Elizabeth May
Member of Parliament for Saanich – Gulf Islands, British Columbia
Parliamentary Leader, Green Party
Ron McKinnon
Member of Parliament for Coquitlam – Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
Chair, Standing Committee on Health (HESA)
The Honourable Marilou McPhedran, C.M.
Senator for Manitoba
The Honourable Kim Pate, C.M.
Senator for Ontario
Scott Reid
Member of Parliament for Lanark – Frontenac – Kingston, Ontario
The Honourable Judy A. Sgro, P.C.
Member of Parliament for Humber River – Black Creek, Ontario
Chair, Standing Committee on International Trade (CIIT)
Francesco Sorbara
Member of Parliament for Vaughan – Woodbridge, Ontario
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue
Bruce Stanton
Member of Parliament for Simcoe North, Ontario
David Sweet
Member of Parliament for Flamborough – Glanbrook, Ontario
Shadow Minister for International Human Rights and Religious Freedom
Vice-Chair, Subcommittee on International Human Rights (SDIR)
Cathay Wagantall
Member of Parliament for Yorkton – Melville, Saskatchewan
Deputy Shadow Minister for Veterans Affairs