Former Liberal justice minister Irwin Cotler recently revealed that he had been the target of an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate him. Cotler, a vocal critic of the Iranian regime, believes this incident should serve as a wake-up call for democracies worldwide to combat transnational repression and violence by hostile actors like Iran.
Cotler had been under 24-hour RCMP protection since an attack on Israel by Hamas, which receives backing from Iran. Following the alleged plot against him, Cotler emphasized the need for democracies to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its actions. He has been lobbying for years for the international community to list the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity.
The former minister also highlighted a pattern of increased assassination plots against Iranian dissidents and western political critics of the regime on foreign soil, along with domestic crackdowns on dissent within Iran itself. This includes executions and abductions of dual nationals back to Iran.
The alleged plot against Cotler comes amidst growing allegations of foreign interference by countries like Iran, China, Russia, and India. In response, Cotler has called for a separate independent government agency to combat cases of foreign interference and repression abroad.
Cotler hopes that Canada and other countries will prioritize transnational repression and assassinations at the next G7 summit. He sees this issue as a direct threat to security, democracy, and human rights and believes it is imperative for the community of democracies to address it proactively.
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