Human rights advocates in Ottawa are calling on the Carney government to impose sanctions and legal action against Iran's Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and other high-ranking officials to address ongoing human rights abuses. Speaking at a press conference on Parliament Hill, these groups marked the third anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths. The advocates highlighted that since January, Iran has executed around 40,000 protesters and critics and employed various repressive measures like internet censorship and mass arrests. They also presented a report outlining 12 steps Canada should take to counter the Iranian regime, including supporting Bill C-219 to combat corruption and human rights abuses internationally.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Wednesday, a coalition of human rights groups and an all-party group of MPs in Ottawa called on the Carney government to impose sanctions and legal action directly targeting Iran's leader and his allies, citing concerns over ongoing human rights abuses. This move is aimed at closing what they refer to as the "impunity gap" and preventing Canada from becoming a sanctuary for such repression. The advocates cited the recent wave of protests in Iran, where an estimated 40,000 people were killed by government forces in just two days in January, along with ongoing tactics like mass communications control, detentions, disappearances, torture, rape, and executions as evidence of Iran's continued human rights violations. Former Liberal MP and cabinet minister Irwin Cotler warned that without intervention from democratic governments like Canada, similar atrocities are likely to continue. Cotler himself faced an assassination plot for his advocacy against the Iranian regime.
Written for “Iran Sanctions Pressure” on 2026-10-07,
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— The Carney government should directly target Iran’s leader and his allies with sanctions and legal action to close the “impunity gap” and to ensure that this country doesn’t become a safe haven for repression, a coalition of human rights groups and an all-party group of MPs insisted Wednesday.
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coalition → target → MPs
Speaking on Parliament Hill on the third anniversary of the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel that killed an estimated 1,200 people, the human rights advocates warned that more atrocities in Iran are likely if democratic governments don’t do more to limit the Iranian government’s power.
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governments → speak → power
Irwin Cotler, a former Liberal MP and cabinet minister and now an advocate, told reporters that it’s a critical moment in the battle between human rights and the government of Iran.
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it → tell → Iran
The government killed an estimated 40,000 protesters and critics over two days in January and has since followed with repressive techniques such as controlling mass communications and detentions, disappearances, torture, rape and more executions.
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government → kill → communications
Cotler, who also faced an Iranian assassination plot for his efforts to call out the regime, said the Iranian regime’s repression tactics extend to other countries, including Canada.
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tactics → face → Canada
Shilan Mirzaee, a democracy advocate and former political prisoner, held up a photo at the press conference of a young couple who were arrested a month ago, just a couple of days before they were to be married.
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they → hold → days
He was then executed while she remains in prison.
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she → execute → prison
Despite the U.S.-led attacks on Iran over the last seven months, that country is still governed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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country → govern → Iran
Canada does not have diplomatic relations with Iran and Ottawa has designated its government a supporter of terrorism.
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government → have → terrorism
After tens of thousands of Iranians took to the streets earlier this year to protest soaring prices and a weak economy, government soldiers opened fire after demonstrators called for regime change.
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demonstrators → take → change
A widespread brutal crackdown ensued.
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crackdown → ensue → ?
Less than two months later, the United States and Israel began large-scale strikes on Iranian facilities, reportedly out of concern about the advance of Iran’s efforts to build nuclear weapons.
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States → begin → weapons
The early attacks in February killed the previous supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, the current leader’s father, who had ruled since 1989.
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who → kill → 1989
The attacks and the war, which have led to oil supply problems and rising prices, have not ended.
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which → lead → problems
The advocates in Ottawa, which included the Iranian Justice Collective and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, also released a report Wednesday with 12 steps that Canada should take to counter the Iranian regime and stand up for human rights.
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Canada → include → rights
Beyond sanctioning the leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, and other senior members of the government, the list includes:
- Passing Bill C-219, a private member’s bill to strengthen Canada’s ability to fight corruption and human rights abuses.
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list → sanction → corruption
The proposed legislation has passed second reading in the House of Commons and is now being studied by the foreign affairs committee.
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legislation → propose → committee
That could include using sanctions to freeze and forfeit assets to compensate victims and their families.
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That → include → victims
- Strengthen anti-money laundering efforts, including going after jurisdictions such as Hong Kong seen as money-laundering hubs.
- Support Iranians’ access to the Internet, which has been restricted by the government.
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which → strengthen → government
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary.
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website → break → news
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