Iranian MPs call for probe into Canadian 'spying'

[Nutcase]

TEHRAN (AFP) - A group of lawmakers in Iran's conservative-dominated parliament have called for a probe into the activities of the Canadian embassy in Tehran, accusing it of spying, a newspaper has said.

"Parliament will investigate the Canadian embassy's espionage. If it is proven, the MPs are determined to shut down the mission," MP Javad Arian-Manesh was quoted as saying Wednesday by Etemad newspaper.


Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie is to meet the MPs over the charges, the report added.

Prominent MP Hamidreza Hajbabai alleged the Canadian embassy was acting as proxy for Iran's arch-enemy the United States, whose mission has been dubbed the "Den of Spies" since its seizure by militant students in 1979.


"The Canadian embassy represents the 'Den of Spies', and this is unacceptable for Iranians," Hajbabai said.


Tehran and Washington severed diplomatic ties after the 1979 Islamic revolution when students seized the embassy in Tehran, taking 55 people hostage for 444 days.


Iran and Canada have had strained relations after the death in custody in Tehran of Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi in 2003, with Ottawa seeking UN condemnation of human rights "violations" in Iran.


On November 21, the UN Third Committee approved a Canadian-proposed resolution expressing "serious concern at the continuing harassment, intimidation and persecution of human rights defenders, political opponents, ethnic and religious minorities and other groups in Iran."


It drew the ire of Islamic republic officials, who hit back by proposing a draft resolution accusing Canada of mistreating its aboriginals and immigrants.


Branding Canada as the "agent" of London and Washington, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki criticised Canada for what he said was its support of "American and Zionist crimes" in the Middle East.

[zubin]

I don't know about this spying thing, but Canada has taken a wrong turn in the world by letting go of its traditionally neutral and peaceful diplomatic leadership. The current Canada status quo is similar to the barbarian from Australia and they blindly support anything Bush's admin says and does, including giving corporations more freedom to kill Africans and polar bears, total and utter neglect of some ethnic minorities, and direct alignment with the war effort against Iran.

In other words, Canada's trying to be my daddy.

[Nutcase]

Ottawa denies Tehran's spying accusations

OTTAWA (AFP) - Canada denied that its embassy in Tehran was involved in espionage, after a group of lawmakers in Iran's parliament reportedly called for a probe into the Canadian mission's activities, accusing it of spying.

"That allegation is unfounded," foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Nguyen told AFP.


Earlier, the daily Etemad quoted Iranian MP Javad Arian-Manesh as saying that "Parliament will investigate the Canadian embassy's espionage. If it is proven, the MPs are determined to shut down the mission."


Iran's Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie is to meet the MPs over the charges, the newspaper added.


Prominent MP Hamidreza Hajbabai alleged that the Canadian embassy was acting as a proxy for Iran's arch enemy the United States, whose mission was seized by militant students in 1979.


"The Canadian embassy represents the 'Den of Spies', and this is unacceptable for Iranians," Hajbabai said.


Tehran and Washington severed diplomatic ties after the 1979 Islamic revolution, when students seized the embassy in Tehran, taking 55 people hostage for 444 days.


Iran and Canada have had strained relations after the death in custody in Tehran of Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi in 2003, with Ottawa seeking UN condemnation of human rights "violations" in Iran.


On November 21, a UN committee approved a Canadian-proposed resolution expressing "serious concern at the continuing harassment, intimidation and persecution of human rights defenders, political opponents, ethnic and religious minorities and other groups in Iran."


It drew the ire of Islamic republic officials, who hit back by proposing a draft resolution accusing Canada of mistreating its indigenous community and immigrants.


Branding Canada as the "agent" of London and Washington, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki criticized Canada for what he said was its support of "American and Zionist crimes" in the Middle East.

[Nutcase]

Canada moves to ensure safety of diplomats amid Iran spy allegations

OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government has taken steps to ensure the safety of the Canadian embassy in Tehran after Iranian legislators called it a den of spies and demanded it be shutdown.


Canadian authorities are monitoring the situation closely and are prepared to take "additional steps if necessary" after hardliners accused Ottawa of plotting with the United States, said Foreign Affairs spokesman Rodney Moore.


He wouldn't elaborate on what steps have been taken so far.


Moore said the allegations are "likely an attempt at retaliation" for Canada's role in sponsoring a UN committee resolution effectively condemning Iran's human-rights record.


"Our decision to sponsor this resolution is based on a detailed study of Iran's human-rights situation," Moore said. "Since the situation has clearly deteriorated, Canada and 43 other co-sponsors had a duty to stress that."


One Iranian legislator, Javad Arian-Manesh, said this week that the Iranian parliament will investigate the Canadian embassy for espionage and close its doors if the charges are proven.


Moore said there is no spying going on.


"There's absolutely no basis for the allegation. Iran has well-defined obligations as a party to the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations and must protect our diplomatic personnel, our embassy and our residences in Iran."


He said Canada doesn't sit back on its heels in its role as a human-rights advocate: "We certainly use our contacts with Iran to encourage changes in Iranian policies on such issues as human rights, Iran's nuclear program and the Kazemi case."


Canadian policy in the country is guided by so-called "controlled engagement," through which it exerts diplomatic pressure in attempts to persuade the theocratic regime to shift away from its radical policies.


There is no Canadian ambassador in Iran and no Iranian ambassador in Canada. Neither has been replaced in the midst of continuing tension over the death of Canadian-Iranian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi, who died of a fractured skull and brain hemorrhage while in the custody of Iranian secret police.


Kazemi, a Montreal-based freelance journalist born in Iran, died July 10, 2003, while in detention for taking photographs outside a Tehran prison during student-led protests against the ruling theocracy.


An Iranian court ruled she died from a fall after her blood pressure dropped during a hunger strike. The judges subsequently cleared secret agent Mohammad Reza Aghdam Ahmadi, the sole defendant.


The Canadian government rejected the court's notion, especially since Iran wouldn't allow Canadian observers at the otherwise open trial.


Seventy countries signed the Nov. 21 UN resolution in New York which called on the Iranian government "to live up to its commitments and obligations" under key international human-rights agreements.


It's the fourth straight year the resolution has been adopted. It calls on Iran to improve its treatment of women and minorities, stop executing minors, end arbitrary detentions, and "respect and advance freedom of expression, freedom of the media and the independence of the judiciary."


Iran's heated language is reminiscent of the rhetoric of militants during the July 1979 hostage crisis, when revolutionary students took over the U.S. embassy in Tehran and relations with Washington reached a dangerous low.

[mike435]

just piss more people off even the canadians
i am surprised no one has linked this to israel yet

[donsaeid]

let me link it! israel canadaro por karde ke ba iran bad bashan lol

[zubin]

lobbye Israel dar "kanada" baraye avaleen bar tuye siasate kanada dare nofuz meekone va mardon kheyli badeshun meeyad. vali raje be "spies" heechi nemeedunam. belakhare gheyre mostagheem ke rabt dare.

[mike435]

yes offcourse the whole world is being influence by powerful israeli lobbys

no govenment can decid for themselfs

while we are at it lets think "criticly" and "objectivly" and say that ahmadinejad was a acctualy colaborator of mossad and a falseflage by israel to rally up the world against iran

[zubin]

are you in denial that Israel's lobby has a lot of influence in North America? Dangerously, there is collaboration between neo-cons and Israel advocacy groups and they don't hide it. So why deny it?