Canada has renewed its criticism of Iranian authorities regarding the case of the Ukrainian plane that was shot down in January of last year, killing 176 passengers. Ralph Goodale, a senior advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada, stated that Iran continues to lie about the Ukrainian plane that was downed by the Revolutionary Guard last year. He added, according to local media reports on Friday, that Tehran refuses to disclose the complete truth about the doomed aircraft, suggesting that its behavior reflects a disregard for human life. He noted that Iran's lack of cooperation on this matter indicates that its airspace remains dangerous.
In a speech before the Transportation Committee of the House of Commons, he argued that the Canadian government must raise this issue in every forum of the International Civil Aviation Organization and all other UN agencies, as well as through all channels and means to ensure that the world does not forget this tragedy.
Previously, Canada has repeatedly urged the Iranian government to act transparently on this matter, reiterating that Tehran has not provided sufficient details regarding the incident, the identity of those involved, and how they would be held accountable. Meanwhile, the families of the victims in Canada have held several vigils, and they have filed lawsuits to hold the Revolutionary Guard accountable for the tragedy inflicted upon them.
On May 27, Human Rights Watch announced that Iranian authorities had launched a campaign of harassment and violations against the families of the victims. Some of the families reported that Iranian security forces had arbitrarily detained, summoned, and interrogated individuals from the victims' families in an abusive manner, torturing and mistreating them.
Furthermore, at least 16 individuals reported being threatened by Iranian authorities to prevent them from participating in interviews with foreign media, while relatives and friends who attended memorial services were tracked, summoned, and photographed.
It is worth noting that the Ukrainian plane was shot down by at least two missiles from the Revolutionary Guard on January 8, 2020, resulting in the deaths of all 176 people on board, most of whom were Iranian and Iranian-Canadian citizens. The incident also claimed the lives of dual citizens from Afghanistan, Britain, Germany, Sweden, and Ukraine.
