Green Party Statement on Iran
The Green Party of Canada unequivocally condemns the human rights situation in Iran. This includes, torture, arbitrary arrests, gross miscarriages of Iranian justice and most disturbing, the death of detainees while in custody. We call upon the Canadian government to reach out to moderate clerics and elected members of the Iranian Majlis to speak out and resist these violations. It is impossible to view the recent Iranian internal crisis in isolation. The history of external interference and repeated rejection of offers of dialogue from past moderate leaders, especially the false ‘Axis of Evil’ doctrine, has contributed greatly to a continued threat against real democracy and human rights in Iran. Equally, corruption and false rhetoric employed by some Iranian leaders widens the divide between the government and the Iranian people.
The Green Party recognizes the rich history of the Persian people, their culture, and the desire of Iranian citizens for peace. The highly educated Iranian civil society should be supported through active, cooperative engagement accompanied by public overtures of dialogue with the Iranian government. There can be no long term stability in the Middle East if Iran is continually isolated. Real change must come from the Iranian people who in turn must receive a clear signal that nations like Canada not only understand this but are prepared to act in a peaceful, cooperative direction. It is imperative that the mistakes in recent decades not be repeated.
The Iranian economy and environment have suffered greatly from neglect and mismanagement and this plays a significant role in the internal struggle between the government and Iranian people as a whole. Iran faces increasing desertification and soil erosion putting water and agricultural resources under future threat. Suspected corruption and the suspicions held by many Iranians concerning the safety of Iran’s nuclear program amplify this economic and environmental dilemma. The Green Party recognizes and supports the enormous work of Iranian women who lead the Iranian environmental movement.
The Green Party of Canada condemns the development of, and possession of nuclear weapons by any nation. We believe the dependence on oil and nuclear energy contributes far too much to global military conflict. Global security can only be achieved through peace, democracy and real diplomacy.
The Green Party believes that the Canadian government should begin to develop a truly independent foreign policy toward Iran by;
• Actively re-engaging Iran in a new diplomacy, fully cognizant of the history of the region and internal politics of Iran.
• Separating Canadian dialogue from, and condemning, a false rhetoric that only serves to inflame and aggravate misunderstandings of the Iranian people and their culture.
• Encourage the creation of cooperative programs that offer Iranian civil society members such as lawyers, legislators, judges, civil engineers, environmentalists and other professionals to directly engage with their professional Canadian counterparts here.
• Support the Iranian people in their quest to strengthen, through peaceful means, the democratic process within Iran.
• Condemn all human rights violations and judicial trials in which torture and police brutality is suspected in obtaining false confessions.
• Support the environmental movement in Iran by working with other countries and the Iranian government to develop cooperative projects within Iran to address the increasing environmental degradation threatening the country.
• Call for full Iranian government cooperation with all IAEA inspections and requests concerning Iran’s nuclear program.
• Offer any and all diplomatic assistance that facilitates engagement and dialogue between Iran and its regional neighbours to ease tensions and foster the stability and peace desired by citizens of the entire region.
Contact:
Michael Bernard
Communications Officer
Green Party of Canada
613-562-4916 ext. 244
(c) 613-614-4916
michael.bernard@greenparty.ca
