Canada is keeping tabs on the Iranian Embassy to ensure that diplomats do not
“interfere with the liberties” of Iranian-Canadian civilians, the National Post
quoted Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird as saying on Friday.
This
after allegations surfaced that the Islamic Republic was using its embassy to
recruit ethnic Iranians.
“Canada has taken a very tough stance against
the regime in Tehran, and we won’t allow them to disrupt the freedom and
liberties of Canadians of Iranian origin,” Baird said.
The issue has made
headlines across Canada after Hamid Mohammadi, cultural counselor at the
embassy, urged ethnic Iranians to “occupy high-level key positions” and “resist
being melted into the dominant Canadian culture.”
Baird slammed Mohammadi
for his remarks, saying “It is completely inconsistent with any diplomatic
mission for the Iranian mission in Ottawa to interfere with the liberties they
enjoy in Canada,” the National Post reported.
Earlier last week, Baird
said Ottawa would “take action” against foreign embassies trying to breach
Canadian or international law.
Elsewhere in Canada on Friday, a Quebec
woman was charged with terrorism after trying to aid the Lebanese Hezbollah
terrorist organization, according to the Globe and Mail.