The Honorable John Baird
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada
2249 Carling Avenue, Suite 418
Ottawa, Ontario
K2B 7E9
Canada
Dear Mr. Baird,
I commend your government’s recent decision to sever diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. For too long the regime has committed atrocious acts against its own people and meddled maliciously in the region with few consequences. Canada’s decision to stand up to the regime in Iran is both courageous and the right thing to do. I trust other nations will follow Canada’s lead and act similarly.
Earlier this year, I filed a report with the UN Security Council and the ICC detailing the clerical regime of Iran’s continued, systematic and gross violation of human rights — within and beyond its borders. It is a sad truth and an established fact that has been highlighted in media and by human rights organizations over the years; however, unfortunately, the regime in Iran remains unchallenged and grows ever bolder in its machinations.
Breaking diplomatic relations with Iran presents a new opportunity to shed light on the systematic disregard for United Nations resolutions and violation of human rights by the current regime in Iran. The more isolated the regime, and the more economic sanctions sap the regime, it is hoped that the Iranian people will rise up and free themselves of this totalitarian regime.
An immediate halt of such human rights violations, followed by the release of all political prisoners and free and fair elections is the rightful demand of the Iranian people who have every expectation that the world will not disregard their plight or abandon them at their time of greatest need. Canada has shown her solidarity in a most important manner, and for that I thank you on behalf of the Iranian people.
With high esteem and personal regards,
Reza Pahlavi
