As with the UK closure of Iran embassy, the Canadian government’s decision to close the Canadian Embassy in Iran and expel Iranian diplomats from Canada is significant for a variety of reasons and it is hoped that it will be followed up by other world powers that have remained silent or looked the other way for so many years. The threat posed by the Islamic Republic since 1979 has many aspects:

▪ The Islamic Republic is in violation of international law prohibiting nuclear weaponization;

▪ The Islamic Republic has committed the crime of incitement to genocide prohibited under the Genocide Convention;

▪ The Islamic Republic is a leading state sponsor of international terrorism;

▪ The Islamic Republic of Iran perpetrates systematic human rights abuses on its own people and has done so since 1979.

We also know that other considerations were factored in the Canadian government’s decision:

▪ Iran’s complicity in Syria’s atrocities,

▪ IRGC's complicity in assaults on foreign diplomats,

▪ The murder of Zahra Kazemi, an Iranian Canadian journalist in Iran,

▪ The recent intimidation of Canadian-Iranians living in Canada which can be argued to be the 'elephant in the room' because Canadian authorities refuse to talk about this publicly,

▪ The aggressive and systematic infusion of terrorist cells in Canada and infiltration of important Canadian institutions by Iran regime extremist Islamists.

What has been missing in statements of disapproval about Iran’s words and actions from Canada, the United States, and the European Union, France, UK, Germany and others — is a commitment to action. The decision by the Canadian government must now set the stage for further actions by implementing a series of non-military, judicial bold initiatives to combat and curb feature Iranian threats, including:

▪ Listing the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist organization by the Western powers.

▪ Extending non-food and medicine sanctions including an all-out oil embargo. Considering that 75% of IRI’s revenues are generated from oil proceeds, as it makes perfect sense to hit them where they are the weakest.

▪ Much like Reza Pahlavi’s bold decision to charge the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, responsible institutions and Western powers can take steps to try other top level IRI human-rights violators in the Iranian political and juridical leadership for their illegal activities such as rape, torture and murder of innocent Iranians. Since the June 2009 uprising and the consequent flight of thousands of refugee, there is overwhelming evidence to prove that the regime arbitrarily arrested, tortured and raped many Iranians aided by Hezbollah and Hamas thugs, not to mention the crimes committed by regime officials during its 33 years of oppressive reign.

▪ Enforcing international law to hold the Iranian accountable for its state-sanctioned genocide. “In accordance with the United Nations Charter, all members must refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State”. The regime leaders have on numerous occasions called for the annihilation of the state of Israel, including offensive and inflammatory statements from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who characterized Israel as an “insult to humanity” and “a cancerous tumor” while calling, yet again, for its “disappearance.”

Unfortunately, the United Nations’ Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has been missing in action and has not acted on its obligations and refused to take decisive measures against the criminals in Iran. Such remedies should include referring the Islamic Republic's blatant violations to the UN Security Council for accountability and sanction.

It is time to hold mullahs accountable after 33 years by exercising the required juridical remedies which should be implemented by international law. Silence is not an option when states threaten genocide, violate their citizens' rights, and there is clear evidence that they are building nuclear weapons with the clear intention of destroying another nation, which might means they are moving towards a modern-day Holocaust very rapidly.

Appeasement, attempts at diplomacy, dialogue and condemnation have not served as an effective deterrent. The time for action is now. The exemplary case made by the Canadian government for closing the Canadian Embassy in Iran must be followed by other responsible governments before it is too late!


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