Subcommittee on International Human Rights Committee on Feb. 2nd, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

Thank you, Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe.

Now, I invite Madame Vandenbeld to take the floor for three minutes, please.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

I'd like to start with you, Ms. Afshin-Jam MacKay, and build on what you just said about unity. One of the things we've heard is that, unlike previously with “Woman, Life, Freedom”, in this case it's everybody out in the streets. Even though there is so much repression, even though there's so much brutality and many atrocities, people are still standing in front of the bullets. You even mentioned the safety of people here, looking over your shoulder, but you're still here testifying.

What I'd like to know is, as parliamentarians but also as leaders in our communities, how do we amplify your voices? Is there something we can do specifically to make sure that those voices are not silenced, and that all of the people who are standing so bravely are heard, despite the regime trying to do everything to silence them?

[Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKay]

Your voices definitely have a huge impact on what happens inside Iran. I know that this regime presents a face like it doesn't care, but I have been in this field for many years, and when I held the position of president and co-founder of the Stop Child Executions organization, it was because of members like you who were amplifying the messages of these children who were on death row that they were freed. If there is a medical doctor, for example, who's right now facing the death penalty just because he helped serve some of the victims of this massacre, then your voices—just a simple tweet—make all the difference.

We're asking for more than just tweets, of course. We want you to make this an issue, your issue. Again, this is not an Iranian issue. This concerns the safety and security of all Canadians and the entire world.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Thank you very much.

Ms. Atena Daemi, you spoke about the need for a coalition of countries. You talked about perhaps leading G7 countries. Why is it really important that this be done through coalitions, that the world mobilize?

[Atena Daemi]

[Witness spoke in Farsi, interpreted as follows:]

I believe that, in any case, it's very important. I believe that, when there are human rights broken, democratic countries have to stand against it. It's very important, but I believe that, if it is a coalition action—I learned this from prison—as a get-together, it is power together. Coalitions are a lot more powerful than individuals.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Do I have time, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

No. Thank you, Ms. Vandenbeld.

Now I would like to invite Madame Kronis to take the floor for three minutes, please.

[Tamara Kronis, Conservative, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I would like to ask this question of Mr. Silver.

You've been upfront about the involvement of the IRGC in Canada—all of you have—and the interference in our civilian life and in our political process. I'm wondering if you might be able to comment on the status of the foreign interference registry, where we're at with that and how it might help.

[Brandon Silver]

I appreciate that important question about Iran's transnational repression and foreign interference.

While I haven't studied the issue in great enough depth to comment on that particular question, I want to comment more generally on the need to continue holding Iran accountable for its foreign interference and transnational repression, in coordination with our allies.

I would flag that Canada's current policy, when it comes to other countries' considering proscription of the IRGC, is to quietly lobby against it. While we've designated the IRGC, we're encouraging allies not to do so, in order to maintain some sort of link or be able to have some channel there. I think that, with some pressure from parliamentarians, that can hopefully change. As the U.K. is considering it and as our High Commission in London is lobbying against it, it would be important for parliamentarians to send a message that the IRGC should be banned by our allies, as the EU just did and as the U.K. should do.

Within the G7, you referenced foreign interference. There was a very important statement that the government coordinated among the G7 when we were chair, calling out this foreign interference. It seems to conflict with that position to then be lobbying against designating the IRGC, so it might be worth engaging our allies abroad to follow suit. That might be a very effective way to limit our exposure as Canadians to this threat, if our allies join in and share intelligence and law enforcement.

[Tamara Kronis, Conservative, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Shahrooz, do you want to add to that, specifically with respect to the interference of the IRGC in Canada and in Canadian politics?

[Kaveh Shahrooz]

Absolutely. I think it's essential that we take this issue seriously.

With respect to the registry, similar to Mr. Silver, I have to say that I haven't studied it closely enough, but foreign interference is a real thing, and it's happening in Canada. Regrettably, the commission of inquiry that we held didn't look closely enough at Iran; it looked at other malevolent actors. I really do think that it's essential that we take a closer look at Iran's foreign interference here in Canada, their role in transnational repression, their role in affecting our elections and their role in cyberwarfare here in Canada.

I think it's really essential, to circle back to an earlier point, for us to coordinate. They're not merely targeting Canada; they are trying to sow chaos across the free world, so it's really important that we do this work in coordination with like-minded countries, with other G7 nations.

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

Thank you.

Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe, you have the floor for three minutes.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Silver, is there not a risk, shall we say, that Canada could be seen as a safe haven for alleged perpetrators of crimes against humanity if investigations are never launched?

[Brandon Silver]

Precisely.

It sends a message to the worst torturers of the Iranian regime that Canada is open to their presence here. As it is, 700 of the Ayatollah's guards see Canada as a place to send their money, to take their vacations and to send their families to be educated. That's already sending a message to Iran. When crimes against the Iranian people and Canadians are allowed to continue and the door is left open to those people, it sends the wrong message.

On the contrary, if we prosecute and launch investigations, it sends the message that those torturers and murderers are not welcome in our country. That's an important message. As the situation becomes more unstable in Iran, a lot of people will flee. Canada can be a first destination for these people. This is very urgent and sensitive. This message needs to be sent very quickly to the Iranian leadership.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Ms. Afshin‑Jam Mackay, would you like to add anything?

[Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKay]

Canada is already looked upon as a haven for these regime affiliates. They bring in billions of dollars of laundered money.

I am in touch with a whistle-blower who can tell you the names, accounts and how much money was transferred from what bank to what bank, because he used to be a banker himself and knows all the transactions. I have told CSIS. I have told the police, and they do not even pick up the phone to call this man and inquire about the pages and pages of documentation he has.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

We'll talk about it again after the committee meeting.

Thank you.

[Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKay]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

Thank you, Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe.

On behalf of this committee, I would like to thank all of our good witnesses. Thanks for being with us. Thanks for your good answers. It gives a good illustration, a good lighting to this subcommittee. I believe every one of us here understands better the situation in Iran with what you have said in this good meeting.

Is it the will of the committee to adjourn the meeting?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

The meeting is adjourned. Thank you.