The identification of mass graves of Native Canadian children and the identification of about 1,200 graves to date in various parts of Canada have once again put the systematic genocide of Indians in the country claiming freedom and security, under the scrutiny of human rights activists.
Canada and violation of the rights of the Iranian
The Government of Canada, tending to focus on human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran, has always been one of the main countries in violating the rights of the Iranian people. Sheltering Iranian fugitive economic corrupters and closing the Iranian consulate in that country and harassing millions of Iranians, as well as openly and systematically confronting the right to self-determination of Iranians living in Canada during the recent elections, are clear evidence that the allegations of this anti-human rights government regarding Iran are false.
Canada and the systematic and gross violation of Indigenous rights
Despite all these oppressions, the anti-human rights nature of this country had not been revealed to the world to such an extent, until the mass graves were found.
It is unfortunate that this systematic violation of Indigenous rights in Canada and the blatant crime against this group still continues. Indigenous Canadians who face with a protracted and unsolved crisis over the murder and disappearance of Indigenous women and girls in recent decades, have been denied access to even the simplest basic needs.
The problem of mercury-contaminated drinking water, the neglect of indigenous languages, the deliberate discrimination against indigenous people in receiving government services and support, and the seizure of their lands, are among those that have been repeatedly criticized by the international community and ignored by Canada.
Canada and the crime of genocide
Although systematic racism and racial discrimination have long been commonplace in the Canadian and US regimes, when this widespread and gross violation of human rights goes beyond the scope of human rights and enters into the realm of international crime (genocide), it needs consistency, prosecution, and accountability.
Prosecution of crimes committed by Canada; Suggestions and solutions
The two fundamental principles of "combating impunity" and "extinctive prescription" require that governments and nations around the world be more serious than ever to hold accountable the criminal states.
In this context, the basic and primary task of all governments and international organizations is to recognize this situation as an international crime and a gross violation of the peremptory norms (jus cogens) and fundamental rules of international law. Undoubtedly, the silence and passivity in the face of these massive crimes, will bring to light the slander of gross violation of indigenous rights being supported in Canada, and will inevitably lead to the international responsibility of the passive.
In the next step, it is the duty of all governments and international organizations to use all available capacities to overcome this situation resulting from the violation, including through following up the case and holding Canada responsible and accountable. There is no doubt that no action can compensate for these massive crimes, but stopping the continuation of this criminal practice is the main demand of the government of the free nations of the world today.
Accordingly, the claimant governments to human rights that invade Iran in some international forums, are expected to use existing international capacities, including the Human Rights Council, to explore more facts about these crimes in Canada and the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Canada.
They are expected to examine and investigate in a special session the issue of Canada which has gone beyond the threshold of human rights violations and reached the threshold of genocide, and thus provide a way to enter the international judicial arena.
The Islamic Republic of Iran must also use all its legal capacities to pursue this issue both domestically and internationally, because pursuing the rights of the oppressed around the world is one of its inherent duties and it values the rights of all human beings regardless of color, race, religion and nationality.
Amirhossein Mohebali
PhD Candidate of Allame tabatabaei University in International law