Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  It is a very effective strategy. An organization I referred to, the Iranian Justice Collective.... We've been keeping a database of this. What we've found is that the prisoners who have had sponsorship are actually more likely to be released. I've been doing this human rights work focused on Iran for many years.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I thank you. It's really the difference between life and death for a lot of people, so thank you very much.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  If I may quickly say, there was no unified front against apartheid in South Africa either. It was then prime minister Mulroney who unified the west against apartheid in South Africa. It will take that kind of moral leadership for Canada to again be at the forefront of this battle against apartheid.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  That's an excellent question, sir. I think there is a lot we can do. We are a middle power, but we're an important one and we have played this role before. I alluded to the really important role Canada played with respect to apartheid in South Africa. I think we ought to adopt the same plays from the same playbook.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  If I may....

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Was that question directed at me, sir?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Absolutely, it is. That warming relationship is a barrier. MP Ehsassi alluded to it as well. Anything that normalizes Iran's regime and creates greater alliances for it in the region is a barrier for Canada, and it's an obstacle for Iran's revolutionaries and human rights defenders.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I'm sorry, but I always lose the tail end of the question, but I—

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I'm sorry, but for whatever reason, it doesn't seem to be working. However, I think I understood the thrust of the question. This does seem to be born out of a desire for vengeance, for punishing these schoolgirls. You must understand that girls as young as 10 were seen protesting in large numbers against this regime, and this regime's modus operandi has been to target precisely the people who are standing up against them.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I regret that the sound system translation seemed to cut off, so I didn't catch the end of your question. I'm sorry.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Understood. That's really an excellent question. There is a difference in view in the diaspora in terms of what Iran should look like and what its orientation should be. Should it be a more of a left-leaning country or a right-leaning country? Among any group of people, any nation, there will be people who have different politics, but quite frankly, I've never seen this level of unity in the diaspora on the core idea that the Islamic regime must go.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I think you're asking a really critical question. The reason I say that is that, regrettably, a narrative has taken hold in the west and in the western media that there is a real divide in the community and that some people support the regime while some people are opposed to it.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Uniquely on the issue of Saudi Arabia, I don't. I apologize.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  That's is a very good question, MP Ehsassi. With the caveat that I've only seen very preliminary news reports and haven't had time to digest it very much yet, my instinct is that this is actually bad news for human rights in Iran for a variety of reasons, but primarily because it gives a further lifeline to the Islamic regime in Tehran.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  That's an excellent question. The foreign minister has already condemned it in unequivocal terms, which is great first step, but as Ms. Hoodfar was saying, I don't think we can trust the Iranian regime to investigate these chemical attacks when the regime is likely the perpetrator or a group very closely tied to the regime is the perpetrator.