Our role in containing Iran

National Post ^ | ,July 23, 2009 | Irwin Cotler

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International diplomacy has failed to end Iran's nuclear program, halt its support for terrorist groups or force the regime to respect basic human rights. But a new strategy is at hand: In a four-part National Post series, presented in partnership with the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, prominent writers explain how the world can apply pressure on Iran. In today's instalment, Irwin Cotler urges Canada to contribute to this effort.

Last month's elections in Iran shone a light on domestic repressions that critics of the ruling regime have been observing for decades. What the world has seen in the past few weeks is not the Iranian regime at its worst; it is the Iranian regime unmasked.

Before the election, there were those -- such as New York Times columnist Roger Cohen -- who praised Iran for its "old itch for representative government" and predicted the election would be "a genuine contest by the region's admittedly low standards." After witnessing first-hand the brutal repression wrought by the Iranian government after June's elections, Cohen was forced to acknowledge: "I erred in underestimating the brutality and cynicism of a regime that understands the uses of ruthlessness."

The lesson is that those who seek to immunize the Iranian regime against critics, and who consistently play down the human-rights abuses that occur within its borders, are not helping Iranians. They are enabling their oppressors. The Iran Accountability Act -- a private member's bill that I introduced this past parliamentary session in the House of Commons --affirms Canada as a true friend of the freedom-loving Iranian people.

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Foundation for Defense of Democracies - Good group of people

[JasonC]

A true friend of the freedom loving oppressed people doesn't sit on their backside congratulating himself while they are tortured and shot. And oh, the main problem is that notoriously evil tyrants will soon have nuclear weapons, and nobody is doing anything about that either.

I am so sick of this sacchrine-dripping, self-important posturing by notorious moral cowards. The west is bankrupt and no I am not impressed with you.