CSIS warns threats from Iran in Canada could increase this year, and it is using criminals to target critics

Globe and Mail

6 days ago

Canada's spy agency is warning that threats from Iran's theocratic regime could increase this year and Tehran will continue to use members of criminal gangs to target its critics in Canada.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service told The Globe this week it is investigating death threats in Canada orchestrated by the republic of Iran. And depending on developments in the Middle East, such threats could escalate here, CSIS cautioned.
The spy agency issued its warning after it emerged that two Canadian journalists working for a London-based Persian news outlet have faced threats from Iran. One was told repeatedly they would be abducted, placed in a bag and smuggled out of the country if they did not stop reporting.
Lawyers acting for the news outlet, Iran International, have asked experts at the United Nations to intervene with the regime urgently after death and abduction threats to its journalists and their families escalated in the past six weeks.
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The escalation coincided with the U.S. attack on Iranian nuclear sites and Israel's offensive, which killed dozens of Iranian senior security officials and nuclear scientists.
In a statement, CSIS warned that the level of threat posed in Canada by people acting on the Iranian regime's behalf could be influenced by the situation in the Middle East.
'CSIS continues to investigate threats to life emanating from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Given the need to protect our sources, tradecraft, and methods however, we cannot confirm or deny specific investigative details,' said CSIS spokesperson Magali Hébert in a statement.
'CSIS assesses that Iran will continue to use proxies, such as individuals involved with transnational organized crime networks, when it targets perceived enemies living in foreign countries, including Canada.'
'Iranian threat-related activities directed at Canada and its allies are likely to continue in 2025, and may increase depending on developments in the Middle East and the Iranian regime's own threat perceptions,' it added.
An alleged plot by agents of Iran to assassinate former justice minister Irwin Cotler was foiled, the RCMP told him last year.
The lawyer and founder of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, who has supported dissidents targeted by Tehran, remains on Iran's hit list and has 24-hour police protection.
Lawyers acting for Iran International earlier this week asked five experts at the UN to intervene with the Iranian regime over threats to its journalists and their families, including two in Canada.
It appealed to the UN experts to take action to protect the safety of journalists in seven countries: Canada, Britain, the U.S., Sweden, Germany, Turkey and Belgium.
The appeal was lodged with five UN special rapporteurs, including Professor Ben Saul, UN special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, and Irene Khan, UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression.
Carlos Nagore Diaz, a spokesman for Ms. Khan, said in an e-mail that 'several UN Special Rapporteurs are considering taking urgent action on the renewed credible threats to life,' but any communications with the Iranian regime are currently confidential.
'The Special Rapporteur has consistently raised concerns about threats to reporters working for Iran international and will continue to do so,' he said.
Last year, a group of UN rapporteurs, including Ms. Khan and Mr. Saul, wrote to leaders of Iran's regime expressing concerns about threats to journalists working for Persian language outlets abroad including Iran International.
Founded in 2017, it has become the most-watched Persian language TV channel in and outside Iran on satellite and online platforms. Headquartered in London, with bureaus in 14 countries, its reporting is often critical of Tehran's theocratic regime.
The rapporteurs' May 2024 letter alleged that the Islamic Republic of Iran was directly, and through proxies, menacing journalists working for Iran International as well as their family members in Iran.
'We note that acts and threats of violence, and other measures of intimidation and harassment by the Iranian authorities or its proxies against persons in the United Kingdom and other states, may amount to violations of the sovereignty of those states,' the letter said.
It detailed how in March last year Iran International journalist Pouria Zeraati was stabbed in the legs by two assailants outside his home in Wimbledon, London.
Two Romanian nationals were subsequently charged with the attack.
In its reply to the UN experts' letter, Iran's permanent representation to the UN, rejected 'allegations made about the threats or kidnapping plans' against journalists working for news outlets such as Iran International, whom it referred to as 'agents.'
'To the Islamic Republic of Iran, this anti-Iranian Network and its operatives are terrorists, they will be dealt with according to the relevant laws and will be tried in a fair court, as the case against some agents of this network is being processed,' the letter said.
Adam Baillie, spokesman for Iran International, said 'the idea of there being such a thing as a fair trial in Iran under the current regime is an absurdity.'
'The allegations about us being terrorists are ridiculous. We are journalists doing our job and we should be doing it from within Iran itself,' he said.
'Furthermore you should not underestimate the level of threat, both in scale and nature, to journalists working for our channel, including in Canada.'
Last week, Canada joined a group of countries including Britain, the U.S., France, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark, to publicly condemn a growing number of threats from Iranian intelligence services on their soil.
The joint statement, issued by the British foreign office, said Iranian intelligence operatives were increasingly collaborating with international criminal organizations to target journalists, dissidents and others.