Canadian Immigration Court Issues Deportation Order Against Former Iranian Deputy Interior Minister
Canada’s immigration court has issued a deportation order against the former deputy interior minister of Iran.
On Wednesday, March 20, corresponding to Farvardin 1, 1403, Canada’s immigration court issued a deportation order against Selman Samani, the former deputy interior minister of Iran, who fell under sanctions approved in 2022.
The 43-year-old Selman Samani traveled to Canada with a tourist visa issued in Ankara and was immediately questioned upon arrival regarding his past role in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s government.
During his hearing last month in February, Selman Samani stated: “I have no knowledge of my superior Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, the Interior Minister, ordering police to kill protesters in 2019.” He also denied any involvement in human rights violations while claiming ignorance of the Iranian government’s role in arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings.
His claims of ignorance came as Canadian immigration authorities argued that he, as a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, played a role in defending the Iranian government regarding the November 2019 massacre, during which, according to Reuters figures, 1,500 people were killed by security forces.
According to statements by Kirk Dickinson, a member of Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship agency, on Wednesday he revealed Selman Samani’s significant influence in the Iranian government and declared this matter unacceptable to the Canadian government. Accordingly, the deportation cases of 9 other senior Iranian officials are set to be referred to the immigration and refugee court.
Mark Miller, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, announced on February 21 of this year through a post on social media the rejection of a permanent residence application by Ishaq Qalibaf, the son of Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship agency also issued a deportation order in February 2024 against Majid Iranmanesh, a technology advisor to Iran’s Vice President.
It is worth noting that a third senior Iranian official has also been arrested in Canada, and his case is under review for deportation proceedings. However, Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship agency has refrained from disclosing the identity of this high-ranking official due to his refugee claim request and has decided to hold his hearings behind closed doors. Global News requested the court to open the proceedings of his case to the public, but the court rejected the request.
