Ottawa eyes Iranian embassy over recruitment

After Iranian diplomat calls on Canadians to avoid integration, Canadian minister Baird says he is keeping tabs on embassy.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
John Baird Canada (photo credit: REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany)
John Baird Canada
(photo credit: REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany)
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.