Leaders From Canada’s Iranian & Jewish Communities Demand Federal Government Declare Iran’s IRGC A Terrorist Organization

“Our government is now on notice,” said Michael Mostyn, Chief Executive Officer of B’nai Brith Canada. “We are asking for the IRGC to be designated as a terrorist group in Canada within the next 30 days. No further delays will be accepted by Canadians on this important public safety issue.”

Top leaders representing Canada’s Jewish & Iranian communities are demanding that the federal government list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity.

The government currently lists the IRGC’s ‘Quds Force’ as a terrorist entity, but not the entire organization.

You can watch the announcement here:

Here’s what B’nai Brith Canada said in a press release:

“Leaders from Canada’s Iranian and Jewish communities have given the federal government 30 days’ notice to list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in its entirety as a terrorist organization.

At a news conference in Ottawa Monday, leaders from the Council of Iranian Canadians, the Justice 88 Campaign and B’nai Brith Canada urged the government to implement a motion previously passed by the House of Commons in June, 2018.

“Our government is now on notice,” said Michael Mostyn, Chief Executive Officer of B’nai Brith Canada. “We are asking for the IRGC to be designated as a terrorist group in Canada within the next 30 days. No further delays will be accepted by Canadians on this important public safety issue.”

In June of 2018, the House of Commons passed an opposition motion sponsored by Sherwood Park–Fort Saskatchewan MP Garnett Genuis, asking the government to “immediately” list the IRGC as a terrorist entity. All Conservative and Liberal MPs in attendance voted in favour.

No explanation has been provided for Ottawa’s failure to follow through with the listing, even 19 months later.

“Unfathomably, more than a year and a half has elapsed since the motion passed,” Mostyn noted. “Why has this designation not yet occurred when it is the clearly expressed will of Parliament?”

B’nai Brith invites Canadians who want Iran’s IRGC to be listed as a terrorist group in this country to sign our petition.

The United States formally listed the IRGC as a terrorist group in April, 2019. Canada has listed the Quds Force, the IRGC’s external operations branch, but not the IRGC as a whole.

Senator Linda Frum has for years been advocating for the listing of the IRGC in its entirety as a terrorist organization. “It seems like an eternity ago when this motion passed,” she said. “The IRGC clearly needs to be listed in Canada. There can be no more delay on this.”

“The designation of the IRGC as a terrorist entity is an urgent matter,” added Avideh Motmaen-Far, President of the Council of Iranian Canadians. “Today, as the Islamist Regime schemes to avenge slain IRGC General Qasem Soleimani, the IRGC poses a greater risk than ever before to Canada’s Iranian and Jewish communities.”

“The Public Safety Minister should heed the will of Parliament and list the IRGC without delay,” stated Reza Banai, Chair of the Justice 88 Campaign. “Since June of 2018, hundreds of Iranians have been murdered just for demanding their basic rights – the least our government can do is sanction the IRGC, which is responsible for so much misery in Iran and throughout the region.”

“There is no basis in law or in policy for banning the Quds Force, while failing to do so for the entire IRGC,” said David Matas, National Senior Legal Counsel for B’nai Brith Canada. “Canada has rightly rejected that approach when it comes to other terrorist groups, such has Hezbollah and Hamas. Any funds sent to the IRGC from Canada – which remains legal today – could be used to assist the Quds Force in carrying out acts of terrorism.”

The Liberal government must listen to these leaders and take immediate action. The IRGC must be fully listed as a terrorist organization.

Spencer Fernando

Photo – Twitter