(OTTAWA) July 26, 2016 – The Green Party of Canada and Green Party of Québec are calling for the release of Canadian-Iranian citizen and Concordia University Professor Dr. Homa Hoodfar, who was detained by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards while conducting historical research into the involvement of women in the country’s democratic institutions on June 6.
Dr Hoodfar’s family members and human rights organizations – including Amnesty International – fear that Dr. Hoodfar is being held in solitary confinement. She has not been allowed to contact her family or lawyer since being arrested more than six weeks ago. There are also fears that she has not been receiving her prescription medication; a form of torture that has been used by the Iranian government in other cases.
“I call on Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion to engage in talks with Iranian counterparts immediately to ensure Dr. Hoodfar’s safety and release,” said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands).
Daniel Green, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada, said: “While Canada and Iran work to normalize their diplomatic relations, Dr. Homa Hoodfar has been incarcerated under false accusations in an Iranian jail. This is why I am asking Minister Stéphane Dion to do everything in his power to resolve this situation ask for the release of Professor Hoodfar.
“This deleterious situation shows the importance of reopening the Canadian Embassy in Teheran. Doing so would permit Canada to react quickly to resolve similar situations. My support goes out to the Hoodfar family,” Mr. Green concluded.
Alex Tyrrell, Leader of the Green Party of Québec, and current student at Concordia University, added: “I call on the Trudeau administration to do everything in their power to both secure the release of professor Dr. Homa Hoodfar and to promptly re-establish diplomatic relations between the two countries as quickly as possible.
“Academic freedom is not negotiable. Canadian citizens should be able to rely on the federal government to defend our rights abroad. Their efforts to date have proved inadequate. The time for diplomatic action is now,” Mr. Tyrrell concluded.
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For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Dan Palmer
Press Secretary | Attaché de presse
[email protected]
m: (613) 614-4916
or
Green Party of Québec
(514) 612 3365
[email protected]