Latest news with #AfshinPirnoon
National Post
12 hours ago
- Politics
- National Post
FIRST READING: If Iran collapses, regime officials likely to flee to Canada
Article content Speaking to Ben Mulroney this week, Babb said that while there are regime officials living illegally in Canada, they can become legal residents simply by claiming asylum. Article content This was the case with Afshin Pirnoon, one of the 20 alleged regime officials identified as living in Canada. A former director general of Iran's Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, he claimed asylum upon arrival to Canada in 2022. Article content Canada is currently experiencing a record number of asylum claims, so much so that the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney is looking to fast-track a new bill that would tighten eligibility for refugee claimants. Article content Of late, those asylum claimants have disproportionately comprised Iranian nationals. According to new figures provided to the National Post by the Association for Canadian Studies, Iran was the second-largest source for Canadian asylum claimants in the first quarter of 2025. Article content Of 28,830 total claimants, 1,730 were Iranian nationals. The only country with a higher number of asylum claims was India, at 4,195. Article content The Islamic Republic of Iran is said to be teetering on the edge of collapse after its military and political hierarchy were shattered by a series of devastating attacks by the Israel Defense Forces. Article content Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly urged Iranians to overthrow the country's wounded theocratic regime, and said in an English-language video address earlier this week that regime officials were 'packing their bags.' Article content Article content IN OTHER NEWS Article content Article content Article content Among the various bills being fast-tracked through the summer session of the House of Commons is Bill C-5, which would give the prime minister unprecedented scope to suspend federal laws in the service of any development project deemed to be in 'the national interest.' Dubbed the Building Canada Act, it would empower the federal cabinet to draw up a list of 'national interest projects,' along with a companion list of laws they don't have to follow. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Global News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Iran roads director brought before Canada's refugee board for deportation hearing
A former director general in Iran's roads ministry appeared before the Immigration and Refugee Board on Thursday as Canadian officials continued efforts to expel top-ranking regime members from the country. Afshin Pirnoon is one of 20 alleged senior Iranian officials caught living in Canada since Ottawa launched a crackdown against them in 2022 due to their involvement in a regime that flouts human rights and supports terrorism. The 49-year-old, who said he was working as an Uber driver, spoke through a Farsi interpreter as he faced questions about his role in the repressive Iranian government before he arrived in Canada in 2022 and filed a refugee claim. The Canada Border Services Agency has alleged that as director general of Iran's Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, Pirnoon was a high-ranking official in the service of the Islamic Republic. Story continues below advertisement He is therefore not allowed in Canada and should be deported, the CBSA has claimed. The hearing before the refugee board was to determine whether the CBSA had a reasonable case against him. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Photos on Iranian government and news websites show Pirnoon at events alongside political and religious leaders. He can also be seen attending official meetings, giving interviews and delivering speeches. Afshin Pirnoon, seen here in Iran, appeared before the Immigration and Refugee Board on Thursday. Iranian Ministry of Roads and Urban Development A civil engineer with a master's degree, Pirnoon worked for the Iranian government for 22 years. Until 2022. he was employed by the branch of Ministry of Roads and Urban Development responsible for road safety. But he denied he had any decision-making authority or influence, and said that as a road safety expert he had saved 'so many lives.' He added that working for a government did not mean supporting it. Story continues below advertisement 'Whatever I've done in my life so far was to safeguard the human beings' life,' he said. 'And since I started to live here I tried my best to behave as a very good citizen for the Canadian society.' A decision on his case is not expected until later in the year. The Canadian government announced in 2022 that it had banned senior Iranian officials from the country and that those already here would be deported. The measure was a response to the brutal suppression of women's rights demonstrations in Tehran as well as Iran's state sponsorship of terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Yemeni's Houthis. Since the federal government stepped up pressure on Tehran, immigration enforcement officers have opened investigations into dozens of alleged regime officials believed to have resettled in Canada. But so far only two hearings have resulted in deportation orders, and only one former regime official has been sent back to Iran, although the CBSA has said that several others had left voluntarily.
