Iranian Legislator Blasts Violation of Human Rights in Canada

A prominent Iranian lawmaker deplored Canada’s weak record in respecting human rights, and condemned the Ottawa government for abusing the rights of the Canadian people, natives in particular.

Member of the Iranian parliament Mohammad Javad Kolivand on Saturday criticized the Canadian government for the violation of the rights of indigenous people.

“The Canadian government has long been among the so-called Western advocates of human rights. Nevertheless, it tops the list of human rights violators,” he stated.

The Iranian lawmaker also called on the international organizations to break their silence and stop the organized violence by the Canadian government against the ethnic community.

Canada has had a very bad track record when it comes to the treatment of natives and most of the native Canadians suffer poor educational, economic and social conditions, and are among the poorest members of the Canadian society.

Meantime, Canadian riot police attacked a protest in Montreal and arrested hundreds of protesting students.

Media reports said that security forces arrested some 200 students marking the first anniversary of massive protests against tuition increases in Canada’s Eastern province of Quebec.

Police spokesman Jean-Bruno Latour confirmed that the protesters had been detained during a protest rally in downtown Montreal late on Friday.

The demonstrators demanded forming a commission to investigate the performance of police forces during last year’s unrest that involved thousands of people against tuition hikes in the French-speaking province.