Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs of Canada. Photo
On Wednesday, June 19th, Ottawa designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization and urged Canadians in Iran to depart immediately, The Arab Weekly reports on June 20th.
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Our government has made the decision to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code,
-Dominic LeBlanc stated.
Accompanied by Canada’s justice and foreign ministers, he accused the Iranian regime of “supporting terrorism,” consistently disregarding human rights both domestically and internationally, and showing a willingness to destabilize the rules-based order.
Melanie Joly, Foreign Minister, highlighting that Ottawa severed diplomatic relations with Tehran in 2012, advised Canadians to avoid traveling to Iran:
For those who are in Iran right now. It’s time to come back home.
The terrorism designation prohibits members of the Guards from entering Canada and bans Canadians from engaging in any dealings with individual members or the group. Additionally, any assets held by the Guards or its members in Canada may be subject to seizure.
The Arab Weekly and agencies