Parliamentary Secretary Deepak Obhrai condemns Iran’s charm offensive
May 6, 2015 - Ottawa, Ontario - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
The Honourable Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights, yesterday rose in the House of Commons, during the Parliament of Canada’s Iran Accountability Week to express Canada’s grave concerns regarding the dire human rights situation in Iran.
Parliament has designated April 30 to May 7 Iran Accountability Week; it occurs this year in the context of nuclear negotiations that have overshadowed the Iranian regime’s continued domestic repression of human rights. This repression includes an unprecedented number of executions—some 45 people were executed in a single week in April alone—as well as the ongoing persecution of the Bahá’í community and the continuing unjust imprisonment of more than 900 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, including women, human rights defenders, members of ethnic and religious minority communities, journalists, bloggers, students and trade union leaders.
“Canada remains deeply troubled by the ongoing and deliberate failure of the Iranian regime to abide by its domestic and international human rights obligations and commitments.
“Over the past two years, the Iranian regime has focused on trying to repair its public image. The President of Iran also continues to make public comments that allude to support for rights and freedoms for the people of Iran, and the foreign minister and other officials speak about peace and regional stability, and about Iran’s respect for human rights. Unfortunately, this type of charm offensive is contradicted by the reality on the ground.
“The human rights situation remains as dismal as ever, with no significant improvements since the 2013 election of President Rouhani.”
- Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights
Johanna Quinney
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
343-203-1851
johanna.quinney@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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