An alleged senior member of the Iranian regime has “voluntarily departed Canada” days earlier than she was to face deportation proceedings, World Information has discovered.
Elham Zandi left the nation after the Canada Border Companies Company signaled its intention to expel her by asking the Immigration and Refugee Board to carry a listening to.
She is the third suspected high-ranking member of the Iranian authorities to depart Canada after being focused below sanctions adopted simply over two years in the past.
Global News reported final week that the CBSA had withdrawn its case in opposition to Zandi. On the time, officers didn’t clarify why.
However paperwork launched to World Information present Zandi opted to depart Canada on Feb. 25, upfront of her deportation case, which was scheduled to start on March 7.
Consequently, the IRB closed her file.
Zandi is amongst 18 alleged senior Iranian regime members discovered residing in Canada because the authorities launched a crackdown in opposition to them in 2022.
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Prime officers of the Islamic Republic have been barred from the nation in response to Tehran’s brutal suppression of Woman, Life, Freedom motion protesters.
So far, only one such official has been deported, however two others have now left voluntarily, together with Zandi. One other stays in Canada regardless of a deportation order.
The IRB declined to concern deportation orders in two additional instances and the rest stay ongoing.
Initially, Zandi got here to Canada claiming to be a vacationer however as soon as right here, she utilized for a piece allow. When she didn’t get one, she sued Canada for $10,000.
In accordance with paperwork launched by the Federal Court docket, the workplace of Liberal MP Patrick Weiler made repeated inquiries to the immigration division in regards to the standing of her work allow.
The British Columbia MP’s workplace stated it was unaware of the CBSA allegations in opposition to Zandi and was responding to a request by her daughter, who’s a constituent.
Iran is the state sponsor of terror teams Hezbollah and Hamas, which attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, triggering a navy response in Gaza and region-wide battle.
It has additionally been accused of attempting to silence dissidents and critics in Canada, amongst them activists and former Liberal MP Irwin Cotler, who was allegedly focused for assassination.
In her report on overseas interference, commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue wrote that neighborhood members had advised her Iranian officers lived “overtly and freely in Canada.”
Iranian Canadian activists have challenged the federal government to do higher job of screening out regime members and supporters they are saying are treating the nation as a secure haven.
The CBSA held a deportation hearing two weeks in the past for Amin Yousefijam, a Toronto-based Iranian national who has used multiple identities and was convicted within the U.S. of serving to Iran evade sanctions.
Stewart.Bell@globalnews.ca
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