My statement speaks directly to your question. I'd just like to highlight what I think is the broad answer to your question.
If we really want to help the people of Iran to advance human rights and democracy, we should listen to them. I think we should listen much more closely to them than to various political lobby groups who have a lot of influence in Canada and who, I'd like to also mention, tried to prevent me from being with you today. I think that's important. We have to have our eye on the ball, listen to those people who are on the front lines, and be guided by their suggestions and their advice. I could go into more detail, but my statement speaks specifically to that question.
I'll just highlight one concrete suggestion that Canada can pursue, and Ms. Shajarizadeh alluded to this as well, I think. Give honorary citizenship to courageous human rights defenders in Iran. One of the most prominent ones, who has been mentioned in both of our testimonies today, is the courageous human rights lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh. She's been condemned to 38 years in jail. She has impeccable human rights credentials. I think that, by giving her honorary Canadian citizenship, it would make it much more difficult for the Iranian regime to keep her in prison, and it would keep the spotlight on her situation. I don't think it would cost anything for the Government of Canada to do this, and I think it would make a big difference. It would send a signal that Canada is very serious about doing something about human rights, not just talking about it.