Jewish, Iranian groups want government to add Iran’s Guards to terror listing

OTTAWA — Canadian Jewish and Iranian organizations have reiterated their demands for the government to list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity following last week’s downing of a Ukrainian jetliner in Iran.

It’s not a new request, but representatives of the groups say it will plug a legal gap that would allow Canadian victims of the crash to sue Iran after the plane was shot down by an Iranian missile moments after taking off from Tehran on Wednesday.

David Matas, the senior lawyer for B’Nai Brith Canada, says the terror listing would remove a legal obstacle and enable Canadian victims to sue the Iranian government under the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act.

The Council of Iranian Canadians and the Justice 88 Campaign also echoed the request, saying it would show Canada’s symbolic support for Iranian protesters who have since taken to the streets.

All 176 on board were killed, including 138 who were headed for Canada, and 57 Canadians.

While the tragedy has hit the Iranian-Canadian community hard, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called it a Canadian tragedy.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Jan. 13, 2020.

The Canadian Press