Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  That's a question I personally would have to reflect on very carefully. There are individuals who have quite detailed knowledge about movements of money, and resources, and particular cliques that have set up camp in Canada. I'd be happy to speak to the subcommittee further about that.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  That's a very good question for which there is no easy answer. Some years ago, before this subcommittee, I spoke about the Islamic Republic of Gangster Capitalism. There is an inextricable relationship between giving economic incentives to religious and security elites and their vested interest in repressing all dissent and ensuring that they maintain power.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I'm not sure what you have in mind in terms of education. One of the problems is that Iran sees civil society as a threat. Iran has a very vibrant civil society. It's a youthful population there who are Internet-savvy. They're cosmopolitan, but they are severely repressed, they're imprisoned, and they're intimidated, so that is part of the problem.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  There is the cost-benefit calculus to human rights violations. Human rights abuses are an instrument by which the regime holds on to power, and an aspect of that power is military force and violence. Another aspect is the economic power and privileges of the inner circle. The question is, how can we ensure that abuses exact a cost?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  The Basij are basically the plainclothes thugs of the IRGC. They are really an extension of the IRGC, just a different means of repression. To add to what I said earlier, if we're really concerned about these concentrations of wealth and their impact on the Islamic Republic, we should also look into our own backyard, at the billions of dollars of dirty money right here in Canada in our real estate markets in Toronto and Vancouver.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I will let Mr. Dubowitz go, and I will respond afterwards.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Just to quickly add to what my friend Mark said, the lifting of the sanctions was linked only to the question of Iran's nuclear program, not to Iran's human rights abuses. Many of us have been saying for years that the nuclear issue should not eclipse the central issue, which is the nature of the regime and its systematic, violent repression of the Iranian people and their aspiration for a different future.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Mr. Chair and honourable committee members, thank you for the invitation. It's a privilege for me to appear before you once again. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation for your continued attention to the human rights situation in Iran. Exactly 50 years ago, in May 1968, the first international conference on human rights adopted the Tehran Proclamation, recognizing that civil and political rights and economic and social rights are indivisible.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I would just add that I think the conditions in the camps are appalling. There's immediate assistance that could be given there. I also think that it's time to start thinking about reconstruction efforts so that the IDPs can go back to their towns and villages where security circumstances permit.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Can you repeat the question?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you very much, Ali, for inviting me. The answer to your question simply is that there has been little to no interest in looking at some of the more grassroots initiatives, which will allow for not just a process of healing but also a transforming of the political culture that has allowed these atrocities to be committed and allows for this culture of intolerance to persist.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  As I said, and other panellists have also explained, it's impossible to resettle the hundreds of thousands of victims, and Canada must bear its share, hopefully in concert with other countries. That's why we also need to look at the protection of IDPs in the camps and how we can contribute to both the process of fleeing and finding ways that will allow them to return to their homes, which is why I was speaking about the security situation in Shingal.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes. Could you please change my translation to English?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Good morning from Oxford. I would like to begin by thanking the members of the committee for inviting me. I am honoured to be able to share a few ideas on the Yezidi minority situation. I really want to thank the committee for still being engaged with this issue. Having worked in the human rights field for quite some years, I realize that when the headlines move on, the victims and survivors are forgotten, but sadly they are....