The federal government is urging Canadians in Iran to come home to avoid acts of retaliation by the state — including arbitrary arrest — as Tehran condemns Ottawa’s decision to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani called the terrorism designation an “unwise and unconventional politically motivated step” and said Tehran reserves the right to respond accordingly.
“Canada’s action will not have any effect on the Revolutionary Guards’ legitimate and deterrent power,” Kanaani said, according to Iran’s Fars news agency, which has ties to the IRGC.
“We know that this is going to have real impacts for members of the Iranian community in Canada and potentially their families back home,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday. “Which is why we needed to take our time to get this done the right way.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said the government’s decision to list the IRGC might expose Canadians to “a heightened risk of arbitrary detention in Iran” and warned Canadians to return home immediately.
“For those who are in Iran right now, it’s time to come back,” Joly said. “For those who are planning to go to Iran, don’t go.”
The federal government is declaring Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist entity under Canada’s Criminal Code after years of pressure. That means police can charge anyone who financially or materially supports the group and banks can freeze its assets.
The government also added new warnings about the dangers of being in Iran on Wednesday after ministers announced the new terrorism designation following years of mounting public pressure.
Canada updated its travel advisory, warning the possibility of arbitrary detention was no longer just a possibility, it was a high risk. The advisory also changed from recommending Canadians consider leaving to advising them to leave now.
“In the context of recent developments between Canada and Iran, Iranian authorities could take retaliatory measures that could pose a risk to the safety and security of Canadians, including Canadian-Iranians,” the travel advisory says.
Global Affairs Canada posted on social media that Canadians in Iran could be under increased surveillance for activities considered “innocuous in Canada” including taking photographs in public places,…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at CBC | Top Stories News…