Latest accused Iran official caught in Canada sues immigration department
The latest suspected senior Iranian official caught in Canada sued the immigration department and enlisted a Liberal MP’s office as part of her fight to stay in the country, government records show.
After arriving in Canada as a tourist, Elham Zandi applied for a work permit, and when officials investigated her past, she complained to the courts about the delay and sought $10,000 in damages.
Her immigration file also reveals the office of Liberal MP Patrick Weiler contacted Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada no less than five times about her case.
Now the Canada Border Services Agency is accusing Zandi of being a senior member of Iran’s repressive regime and has launched deportation proceedings against her, Global News has learned.
Zandi’s lawyer declined to comment. The CBSA said it could not discuss the matter for privacy reasons. But the Immigration and Refugee Board said it was scheduling a deportation hearing for Zandi.
The CBSA requested the hearing on Jan. 7 under regulations that target high-ranking officials who have served in the government of the Islamic Republic, the IRB said.
No date has been set for the proceedings.
Details of Zandi’s alleged role in the Iranian regime have not yet been disclosed but a court case she filed against the government last year reveals her efforts to remain in Canada.
Although Iran is accused of widespread human rights abuses and sponsoring terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis, its senior officials have been turning up in Canada.
The CBSA has identified 18 alleged officials living across the country. Three have had hearings so far. The IRB issued deportation orders against two of them but declined to expel the third.
A fourth official left Canada
Read more on globalnews.ca
