OC:

Since the Islamic Revolution, the Iranian people have suffered 40 years of mass imprisonment, forced exile, thousands of executions and even crimes against humanity by a largely unchanged leadership. Yet, the repression continues to intensify and shows no signs of abating.

As many around the world mark the anniversary this week, attention should be paid not only to the events in history but to the state of Iran today and how the international community can respond. Last year witnessed the largest protests in Iran since 2009, surfacing in nearly every province and resulting in thousands of arrests. What followed was an unprecedented crackdown on every civil society group throughout what Amnesty International has called Iran’s “year of shame.”

As human rights defenders in Iran are increasingly silenced, Canada should stand in solidarity with them by invoking the Magnitsky Act (named after Russian whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky). The law authorizes the government to impose sanctions in the form of travel bans and asset freezes on individuals responsible for gross human rights violations. Similar legislation has been passed or is being considered the world over. In the case of Iran, Canadian parliamentarians from every major party have already called for Magnitsky sanctions against a list of the chief perpetrators of the ongoing crackdown as profiled in a report by our NGO, the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights. It is a novel, necessary and just foreign policy option that has not yet been exercised.

A more detailed review of recent events in the country helps to understand the urgency of a coordinated international effort to end the culture of impunity — with Magnitsky sanctions providing the clearest path forward. Following the countrywide protests last year, Iran’s Intelligence Ministry, led by Mahmoud Alavi, arrested at least 150 student activists. Many were later issued heavy prison sentences under national security charges. In an effort to stifle their cause further, pollsters were arrested simply for gauging views about the protests.

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