Ahead of PS752 Anniversary, CIJA Stands with the People of Iran and Calls for Action Against the Iranian Regime
Ottawa, ON – January 6, 2026 – Ahead of the six-year anniversary of the downing of Flight PS752 and at a time of anti-regime protests across Iran, Noah Shack, CEO, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), issued the following statement:
“We stand with the brave people of Iran as they confront the oppressive Iranian regime – one of the world’s most dangerous threats to freedom, security, and people everywhere, including Canadians.
“For nearly 50 years, the ayatollahs and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that keeps them in power have brutally repressed their own people. Hundreds of thousands of Iranians have been persecuted, tortured, jailed, and murdered.
“From Yemen to Syria, and Lebanon to Israel, the Iranian regime’s support for terrorism, its nuclear weapons program and its ballistic missiles have threatened the entire Middle East.
“In Europe, Iranian missiles and drones – the same ones used to target Israelis – have wreaked havoc on Ukrainian civilians. In Australia, intelligence services have directly linked Iran to violence against citizens, including attacks on the Jewish community.
“Canadians have also been in the crosshairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This Thursday marks six years since the IRGC murdered 176 people aboard Flight PS752, including 55 Canadians and 30 permanent residents. Meanwhile, there are reports that up to 700 individuals linked to the Iranian regime are living in Canada. Iranian agents have threatened Iranian Canadian citizens, targeted the life of a former justice minister, and used Canada as a platform to spread the regime’s radical agenda.
“During the election campaign, Prime Minister Carney sounded the alarm about this dangerous regime, stating: ‘We have to be clear-eyed about the fundamental risk of Iran and do everything with our international partners to check it.’ The Government of Canada should act urgently by taking the following measures:
- Protecting Canadians by removing Iranian regime-linked individuals from Canada and ensuring none enter our country, using the full force of our immigration, sanctions, and asset-seizure laws.
- Giving full effect to the IRGC’s terrorist designation and all listed terror entities, including investigations, prosecutions, and the disruption of financing, intimidation, and support networks operating in Canada.
- Advancing justice and accountability, including investigations and sanctions of Iranian officials involved in the repression of protesters in Iran, as well as expanded legal action related to Flight PS752.
- Working with allies to increase coordinated pressure on Iran, including tighter sanctions on its missile and drone programs, and support multilateral action to transition Iran toward a better future for the Iranian people without the IRGC.”
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Additional Background
