Iranian agents are accused of plotting to assassinate Irwin Cotler, a Canadian human rights activist and former Liberal justice minister who has long been a vocal critic of Iran.
Details of the alleged plot, which was thwarted by law enforcement, were first reported by the Globe and Mail on Monday, citing anonymous sources, and Kotler’s office confirmed to CTV News.
Officials said Kotler was informed late last month that there was an imminent threat to his life, according to the Globe and Mail.
CTV News spoke with his office, but Kotler, founder and director of the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights, was not available for an interview and does not plan to issue a statement.
Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos told reporters on Monday morning that Public Security Minister Dominique Leblanc was “fully aware of these allegations.”
However, in a statement from LeBlanc’s office to CTV News, the minister said: “For security reasons, we cannot comment on or confirm specific RCMP activities.”
In an emailed statement to CTV News, RCMP said it has not disclosed details of the protective measures or confirmed the identities of those in its care.
“Safeguards are based on ongoing threat and risk assessments,” the statement said, adding that law enforcement therefore has “no further comment at this time.”
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, the prime minister’s new special assistant on relations with the Jewish community and anti-Semitism, said it’s important Canadians recognize the threat Iran poses to Canada and the world. .
“This is shocking, horrifying and completely unacceptable, but what the Islamic Republic of Iran is doing and others who are bringing fear into our communities,” Housefather said in an interview with CTV News. That’s what we’re doing,” he said.
He pointed to Canada’s sanctions on Iran and the designation of the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization.
Also in an interview with CTV News, former Canadian Security Intelligence Agency national security director Dan Stanton said Cotler could be considered a prime target for regimes like Iran.
“I am not shocked in the sense that this is part of the Iranian regime’s policy to silence those who criticize it,” he said.
“I think because of his profile and his status, he’s a viable target if you want to get the message across, which is that no one is truly safe from this kind of activity,” he also said. Ta.
Stanton said the act of assassination attempts, planned by agents of foreign governments and carried out by their agents, is fairly new, but already widespread in terms of the number of countries carrying them out.
“This is even more troubling and a bit of an Achilles heel for these regimes because they are vulnerable in the sense that these individuals are not operating with sufficient security,” Stanton said. , India, and Iran. “They’re reckless. They often attract the attention of law enforcement and end up being arrested.”
“So they have to reach out and take advantage of these people, but at the same time their activities are most likely to be identified and disrupted,” he added.
Kotler, a former special envoy for preserving Holocaust memory and combating anti-Semitism, confirmed to CTV News in December that he was under 24-hour security, but could not explain why. Didn’t make it clear.
“I don’t know what that involves, but like I said, they should talk to the RCMP about it,” Kotler told CTV News Channel’s Power Play host Vassie Kapelos at the time. ” he said. “The report is correct. I have security protection, but I’m not talking about it.”
Kotler added that he had “great protection” and felt “safe” at the time of the interview.
Housefather said it was “incredibly serious” and “terrible” that one of the “greatest living Canadians” had to be under constant surveillance.
“He’s one of the most optimistic, strongest people I’ve ever known, and he’s just as dedicated to his job as anyone,” Housefather said. “This man is working around the clock to help human rights around the world, and that’s what he’s focused on, fighting anti-Semitism here in Canada and around the world.”
Housefather added that Canadians should be “horrified” that Kotler “has to live like this.”
With files from CTV News’ Mike Le Couteur, Samantha Pope and Stephanie Ha
