Canada “a haven for Islamic Republic agents”: Iranian human rights activist

We’re here in Nova Scotia at the 15th annual Halifax International Security Forum The Forum couldn’t be taking place at a more critical time from tensions with China to concerns about Iranian interference the conflict in the Middle East and Russia’s war in Ukraine everyone is here from decision makers to

Dissidents to generals trying to find a way forward in our world that sometimes feels like it’s exploding I’m lady Stevenson the West block begins now the October 7th attack by Hamas in Israel has put the role of Iran in supporting Hamas and Hezbollah under increasing scrutiny but critics of the

Regime say countries like Canada are also at risk I sit down with prominent Iranian activist Massi alinad who says prime minister Justin Trudeau needs to take action now and what will the new tone between Washington Washington and Beijing mean for Taiwan as the country prepares for presidential elections in January I

Speak to taiwan’s Deputy foreign minister about the constant threat of Chinese military Action the Iranian regime casts a long Shadow around the world one that has become even more a obvious since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th Tran uses proxy terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah across the Middle East but a global news investigation found the regime’s tentacles extend to right here

In Canada arar mahti uncovered evidence of more than 700 regime operatives here on Canadian soil from money laundering to threats to murder plots the impunity with which the regime appears to be offer operating in Canada is shocking renowned Iranian human rights activist Massi alinad sat down with me to share a

Fresh warning and a bone chilling message for prime minister Justin Trudeau Massie thank you so much for joining us today I I know that it was actually a a dangerous thing potentially for you to come to Canada ah even saying this it’s like it’s so weird like just

Dangerous to be in Canada oh I love Canada thank you so much for having me but yes it was because of my situation being critical of the Islamic Republic uh there is still a threat not only against me against everyone who criticized the Islamic Republic in Canada you normally are in Brooklyn and

You spoke with 60 minutes and told the story about how the Iranian regime not only wants you kidnapped they want you dead they tried to have you killed what happened yeah they want me dead um first of all they hate women like me like you I mean we have beautiful hair so that

Even makes them more hate you because they don’t want you to show your hair but um me because of actually campaigning against compulsory veiling campaigning against Islamic Republic um they hate me a lot so that’s why first they went after women who were sending videos to me like you know simply

Walking unveil and making video and saying hi Massie we enjoy the winner her we want to be free this is my you know practice of Civil Disobedience they brought those women on TV to denounce me publicly made them to do false confessions that didn’t work because other women joined and then they went

After my family members they like you know put my brother in prison for two years to keep me silent didn’t work then different tactics sending killers to New York a man with loaded gun with AK-47 got arrested in front of my house yes in Brooklyn you see these stories you hear

Them and they sound like something out of a mystery novel or or a bad movie but it’s it’s happening here it’s happening in New York but also in Canada we recently did a documentary we found that at least 700 regime Affiliates are here in Canada and the Iranian diaspora population says they’re being

Intimidated by them but you know what makes me angry the most it’s like the family members of one of the well-known uh victim of the Islamic Republic n a sulan you have to see the video of her getting killed by revolutionary guards in the street which went viral so her

Family members were denied Visa by Canadian government but at the same time you see that the member of revolutionary guards themselves who’s shooting people in the chest hard receiving visa and being welcomed in Canada that makes me angry so why do you think the Canadian government is not doing more to stop

These people from coming to Canada you know this question should be asked um in front of prime minister trodo I want you to sit down and ask this question actually love to give you his response because we we did ask him that did and what his response was is that the

Government will continue to do everything necessary to hold the regime accountable they say they’ve criminalized them so they are not allowed to enter Canada but they have not designated the irgc as a as a terror entity which some activists here say is necessary and know these are cliche an

Empty word and prime minister trodo I want to use this camera and talk to you directly don’t be scared of me and women like you know you and critical journalists and Iranian Canadians in Canada will we love Canada we love peace and security and democracy we love Canada to be a

Shelter for you know decent people and you’re putting the lives of Canadians in danger so I want to meet you that’s all I can say because otherwise he’s going to come up with a lot of empty words saying that we stand with the people of Iran no please sit down and make

Decisions how to protect uh human rights how to protect democracy in Canada that’s very important I was the one four years ago in Canadian Parliament I warned prime minister trudo’s government that put the Revolutionary guards on the terrorist list they didn’t what happened the same revolutionary guards killed

Iranian Canadians by shooting down the Ukrainian airplane so that’s why when we warn prime minister trudo it means that we know the danger is coming now revolutionary guards are everywhere everywhere sponsoring Hamas to kill um civilians in Israel and that’s one of the questions I wanted to ask you what what would these

Members of the Iranian regime be doing in Canada spying money laundering everything spreading the ideology of the Islamic Republic wow they can do a lot that’s the goal of Islamic revolution since when they took over Iran 40 years ago uh Ki was saying that we have to export our Revolution our

Values child marriage you know this is one of the values of Islamic revolution compulsory veiling you know and spreading terrorist ideology saying that if anyone do not follow our values and ideology they can be eliminated you were warned by the FBI that Canada might be particularly dangerous for you I

Think a lot of Canadians would be shocked and horrified by that I don’t want Canadian people get uh angry with me because of my situation now you hear that a lot on media that Canada is not safe Canada is not safe don’t go there but honestly this is actually um to me

It’s a warning and and all Canadians should actually put pressure on the government in Canada because it’s not good to hear actually that as as Canadian citizens here that most of the time that Canada is not safe Canada became a Haven for Islamic Republic agents Canada is a country that a lot of

People have respect for it in in my country a lot of people want to come to Canada and enjoy freedom but now they say that oh no let’s not go to Canada because it’s not safe can you believe believe that or people here like Iranians saying that we

See a lot of uh not only the Agents of the Islamic Republic those who integated us around us so it’s it’s beyond sad it’s beyond sad I think we have to renew democracy we have to be uh Vigilant and think about it again that what are we going to do with our

Country America the same I see a lot of you know uh relative of the ayas those who say death to America they are enjoying their luxury lives in America as well and that’s sad what did the FBI tell you about the rcmp’s ability to protect you in Canada

I mean I have to thank uh the FBI always actually you know letting the uh the police in Canada know and they are always there to protect me but that’s I don’t want anything for myself I want them to protect Canada I want them to protect um people who live here yeah I’m

Only one person I’m not scared of getting killed I’m not honestly scared for myself but this is a scary that in front of the eyes of free world we see that the Islamic Republic threatening National Security of Canada and National Security of America yes I was told by

The FBI that the same people who plotted to kidnap me they were the same group trying to kidnap two uh Canadian citizens on Canadian soil yes that was like public you can read the indictment by you know Department of Justice in America when they published that I was

Like wow then I’m not alone the same member of revolutionary guards who who were trying to kidnap me they were after two Canadians and two uh UK citizens that’s why I say that where are you the Democratic countries what has happened to you in terms of threats or activity

Since you spoke louder and louder as you see me I’m full of life you know I want to enjoy my life I don’t want to live in fear I remember the day when uh yeah when the FBI showed me like the text message between the killers one in New

York the one in Iranian intelligent service saying that as soon as she came out the show is over that was a text message between them and the guy in Iran was saying that that’s going to be a birthday gift for me I just turned back to my husband I said that they talk

About my dead body as a gift so it’s disgusting no but I said to myself wow said I’m only 45 k kill I’m not carrying weapon nothing but they scared of me so that gives me hope so it’s like you know Iranian women teenagers they’re scaring the whole regime with guns and bullets

Power money everything but they scared of Iranian women’s hair like teenagers walking in the streets they put a lot of morality police everywhere to arrest them to kill them that shows we are powerful and they scared of us you know Massie thank you so much of course thank

You so much for having me great up next US President Joe Biden says he made important progress in his meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping will that protect Taiwan from Chinese military Aggression a historic meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese president Xi Jinping may have dial down the threat of war with China as you know I just concluded several hours the meetings with president shei and I believe that are some of the most constructive and productive discussions we’ve had there

Is however a sticking point the relationship with Taiwan will the new tone between Biden and G help to protect Taiwan from the possibility of a Chinese Invasion I spoke to taiwan’s Deputy foreign minister of Affairs Roy Chun Lee there’s a lot of fear that there could be an accidental third world war

Essentially as you sit there and watch this uh from the Taiwanese perspective what does this meeting mean for taiwan’s security has it helped or do you think that there’s still a high potential for China to invade well first of all the summit between uh president Shia and President Biden definitely helps

To uh provide some level of certainty in relation to the tension that’s been unfolding and developing over the last 24 months um we were joking that there were more nville and War plans and Neville vessels sailing through Taiwan streets than commercial ships and and airplanes nowadays uh because it becomes a kind of

Hot spot for all the superpowers not only superpowers but country like Canada or Japan or even South Korea and German German uh warships are now trying to uh maintain the the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait by Crossing uh through sailing through the C Taiwan Strait uh

To ensure that there is a freedom of navigation and China on the other hand is trying to create a military New Normal by um intimidating all the uh War plans or nval ships that are sell in through Taiwan Street uh one of the objective we suspect is that China is

Trying to convert the Taiwan Street into a domestic water so it is no longer it will be a internal water of China is it’s U you require Chinese permission to sell through the C they’re not there yet but they are trying to create a new normal so that if you don’t push back

Against that it will become a normal now so that signifies the importance of this uh Summit between shimpan and and President Biden because they uh President Biden has been relatively straightforward to uh express our concerns and and reservations and oppositions to China’s actions especially in in in that part of the

World and and and what shimia of course uh react to those to those uh remarks or demands by uh sharing virtually with us that they have have no no plan to have war with anyone and they are happy to resume military uh talks at all levels

So that creates some um safeguards or or guard rails not necessarily removing all the threats and dangers but at least some um God rails China has clearly been escalating in towards in terms of its its menacing posture towards Taiwan tell us what those threats have looked like

For you what do it involve because we just see when they intercept a Canadian or American ship or a Canadian plane it makes our news but for Canadians out there what have the Taiwanese people been living with if you are living Taiwan the reality is that every day you

Wake up you turn down you you log in into the internet and you can check on the numbers of Chinese War plans that has approached Taiwan overnight in the last 24 hours sometimes the number is five sometimes the number is 90 every day every every day every day so it

Become part of the daily uh uh threat so the threat is not only on the paper is actually in the sky in the sea surrounding Taiwan constantly there are four to five Chinese nval vessels stationed at the Four Corners of Taiwan and they change cards uh on a

Weekly basis of course they are not into taiwan’s territorial Waters certainly but they they keep they they their posture is such that they can do that over over the next 10 10 minutes so that’s how close they are and that’s the how frequently they are intimidating

Taiwan on those military front but I I need to add another element that is intimidation and corrosion in the digital world on a daily basis we received thousands of cyber attacks last year taiwan’s private uh public sector receive over 30 million cyber attacks every month that is 1,000 times more

Than European countries on average it’s extraordinary so it’s not only the war plans it’s not only the naval vessels but also the cyber attacks and the disinformation not to mention the election interference that Canadian are now so aware so familiar with for Taiwan um is is also like on a daily basis that

We Face interference from China so it’s I I we describe this as a hybrid Warfare It’s a Warfare that is in combination of military threats intimidation plus cyber attacks and disinformation what do you think the chance is of a Chinese military Invasion I think in the for cable future is quite

Unlikely because first of all China is not ready militarily and economically looking at Russia’s Invasion to Ukraine you you you realize that it’s not a competition between the Hardwares it’s also about financial capacity it’s also about the depth the the depth of your manufacturing sector for example so in that regard China’s

China’s Readiness is not only reflected on how many vessels they have it’s also about the capacity to sustain uh military conflict so for the time being China is not there yet but they are working towards that objective they are and also uh China’s uh calculation is based on also the

Uncertainty and the risks associated with the military attack on especially on their political Authority in China so they want to make sure that they they have to win the war the Communist Party will stay in power after with or without a war and and and they have to do all

These calculations so what we have been doing is to increase the uncertainty increase the the costs of a military uh uh uh non-military deterrence exactly but the case they continue to exercise this um military intimidation for three objective first of all to create fear in Taiwan so all these U military exercise

Can provide a a a a factor that will divide Taiwan Society secondly is a explicit election interference because in Taiwan the the political debate at this point of time is about whether the election next year next January is the decision between War and Peace So China is actually providing man-made evidence

To support the argument that it is indeed a choice between War and Peace well they are the source of the war but they are saying that look you should choose get your decision right get the party who won’t be creating War get the part elect the party who will bring

Peace so to to our uh perspective it is explicit direct interference of election and lastly is providing chilling effect to the International Community so that Taiwan will be isolated from other countries top leaders from Canada will feel a little bit concerned to visit Taiwan thank you so much for joining us

Today I know you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you on this trip and uh we look forward to seeing the future of Taiwan up next will Canada match its messaging from the Halifax International Security Forum about increased defense spending or continue cuts and be left out in the cold by [Applause] Allies now for one last thing the discussion here in Al fox has been all about strengthening defense and security as the world becomes more unpredictable and autocratic regimes are emboldened Canada’s defense minister Bill Blair delivered a speech here calling for enhanced defense spending a position at odds with the current reality as Ottawa

Plans military spending cuts I asked US senator Jean Shaheen a powerful Democrat who sits on the US Senate committee on foreign relations and the Senate armed services committee what message Canada will be sending if we don’t spend more on defense well I think um the message

Is one to all of our allies not just the United States but to all of NATO I was just in the western Balkans in Europe in um North Macedonia where they’re spending over 2% of their GDP on defense and they as they said to me we’ve provided every weapon system we could to

Ukraine um all that’s left in in our country now is the band and I think I think we’re seeing that kind of commitment and sacrifice on the part of some of the smallest allies in NATO and so it’s important for the bigger Partners to make sure that we’re also

Putting in our fair share we’ll see if that defense spending comes through that’s our show today from Halifax we’ll see you next week from Ottawa

Iran’s alleged links to proxy groups like Hezbollah and Hamas have come under increased scrutiny after the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel—raising questions about the Iranian regime’s reach into Canada. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with human rights activist Masih Alinejad about her warnings to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Canadian public, the threats made against her, and more.

Plus, U.S. President Joe Biden says important “progress” was made in his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC Summit. However Taiwan remains a sticking point in U.S.-China relations. Stephenson speaks with Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Roy Chun Lee about Taipei’s view of the Biden-Xi meeting, military activity in the Taiwan Strait, election interference, and more.

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