May 16, 2010 0
Letter to Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon; regarding recent executions
To: The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Dear Minister Cannon
The Iranian regime has accelerated its spate of executions despite international condemnations. In addition to execution of a number of activists in the past few months, recently 11 political prisoners who were detained before or after the presidential elections in June 2009, have been condemned to death by the widely criticized show trials; from this group, five (including a teacher and women right activist) have already been executed (on May 9th) with many more in imminent danger.
Despite the regime’s claim that the executed activists belonged to a terrorist organization, it has failed to provide any proof whatsoever in that regard; as all observers have indicated, it is merely a tactic to mute widespread international condemnation.
There is a well justified concern that this would be a prelude to a more aggressive campaign of intimidation to silence and crush the now established Green movement by brute force.
We as Canadians have a duty and responsibility to break our silence and accelerate our efforts against the detention, torture and execution of peaceful demonstrators, political activists, minorities, writers, journalists and members of the Iranian civil society, by condemning torture, forced confessions and above all, the death penalty.
We expect our Canadian government to take a firm stance against the execution of political prisoners in Iran; we need to send a firm message to the Iranian government that the international community will hold them responsible and accountable for their actions; actions which warrants the same level of attention as the current nuclear issue.
It is a great opportunity for Canada, as the indisputable champion of human rights causes, to put Iran’s human rights issues on the U.N. agenda.
Yours Sincerely
The Committee for Solidarity with Iran
