The Implications Of The Terrorist Designation Of The IRGC By Canadian Government – OpEd

The Canadian government has finally listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the main arm of repression, warmongering, and exportation of terrorism of Iran’s regime, as a terrorist organization.

The;Canadian Minister of Public Safety, in announcing this decision said;the action “sends a strong message that Canada will use all of the tools at its disposal to combat the terrorist entity of the IRGC.

“The Iranian regime has consistently displayed disregard for human rights, both inside and outside of Iran as well as a willingness to destabilize the international rules-based order.”

Simultaneously with the approval of the IRGC’s listing, freedom-loving Iranians in various Canadian cities welcomed the approval of this resolution aimed at isolating the mullahs’ terrorist dictatorship globally, through demonstrations and expressions of joy.

This action by Canada quickly made headlines worldwide, reflecting how global public opinion, thanks to the revelations by the Iranian resistance, is aware of and sensitive to the role of the Iranian regime and the IRGC in international terrorism. This action coincided with the arrest of a suspect in the shooting of Professor Alejo Vidal-Quadras, a prominent supporter of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the Iranian Resistance, last November in Madrid, Spain. This event demonstrates how the IRGC, as a state organization, extends its reach into the heart of Europe and across the world, from America to Africa and Asia, threatening the lives of citizens in these countries.

The Canadian government’s decision to list the IRGC has provoked anger and fear in the mullahs’ regime. The regime’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Naser Kanaani hastily reacted by calling the move a “political, unconventional, and unwise action” and an “assault on the mullahs’ sovereignty,” threatening that “Iran reserves the right to respond to Canada’s hostile action.” Everyone knows that such statements from a notorious terrorist regime mean nothing but hostage-taking. Thus, the Canadian Foreign Minister emphasized that Canada’s action to hold the Iranian regime accountable was very important, adding, “Of course, the risk of arbitrary detention of Canadian citizens by this regime increases. We again urge all Canadian citizens to avoid traveling to Iran and those currently there to return to Canada.”

The regime’s fear of the Canadian government’s action is understandable, as this action was taken in response to a resolution by the Canadian Parliament. This trend has been ongoing in European countries and the United States. Parliamentary resolutions and statements by lawmakers in these countries to compel their governments to list IRGC have been influenced by the tireless efforts of freedom-loving Iranians, supporters of the resistance, and parliamentary conferences held to pursue this long-standing demand of the Iranian Resistance.

A look at the demonstrations and conferences held in the past couple of months and last year, or the demonstrations marking the anniversary of the anti-monarchy revolution in February 2023, held in the harshest cold in Canadian cities, during which the call for the IRGC’s terrorist listing resonated, clearly shows this trend. This is the same trend that has been ongoing in Europe, and in addition to national parliamentary statements and resolutions, has so far led to two powerful resolutions for the IRGC’s listing in the European Parliament.

Last May, at a European Parliament session where the second resolution for the IRGC’s terrorist designation was approved, Parliament members strongly challenged the European politicians’ policy of appeasement and delay in fulfilling this demand.;Guy Verhofstadt, Member of the European Parliament and former Prime Minister of Belgium, addressing Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, said, “We don’t like your strategy. We want you to change your strategy. Your strategy of diplomacy and appeasement leads to nothing at all; it does nothing at all. So, this Parliament asks you to change the strategy, based on real sanctions against the leadership of Iran first. Secondly, recognize the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. I don’t understand why you don’t do it. ;And finally, don’t continue with diplomacy towards the regime. It’s time to recognize the opposition and to have direct contact with them. They are the real representatives of the Iranian people.”

Listing the IRGC as a terrorist organization has been a long-standing goal of the Iranian Resistance, dating back four decades, and has been emphasized in many speeches and messages by Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, after the announcement of the IRGC’s listing by Canada on June 19, 2024, said, “Canada’s designation of the IRGC as a terrorist entity is a commendable step, deserving congratulations to the parliament and government of Canada.

The Iranian Resistance has been advocating for this designation for years. This measure is essential in response to four decades of suppression, terrorism, and warmongering by the regime.

The people of Iran, along with majorities in 28 parliaments worldwide, demand that the regime’s leaders be held accountable for executions, massacres, genocide, crimes against humanity, the suppression of women, and the oppression of national minorities in Iran.”