December 22, 2008
No. 250
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding the closing of the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC) in Tehran, Iran:
“Canada is seriously concerned about the raid and closing of the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Tehran yesterday. The DHRC, headed by 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, is an important non-governmental organization that courageously defends prisoners of conscience and documents human rights violations in Iran. It is particularly disturbing that the raid took place when the DHRC was planning to hold a celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“Canada continues to urge Iran to fully respect all of its human rights obligations, both in law and in practice, and to allow for the immediate reopening of the DHRC offices. We continue to support freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Iran.”
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Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
613-995-1851
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
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