A Liberal MP is denying allegations, broadcast on an Iranian-language television network, that he has worked with and accepted money from Iran's government.
"These accusations are absolutely false and unfounded," Majid Jowhari told CBC News in a written statement. "I strongly deny any accusations."
The allegations against the member of Parliament for Richmond Hill were made by freelance journalist Alireza Sassani on the program Window on the Homeland on the Iran-e-Farda network.
CBC News has not been able to independently verify Sassani's claims.
Sassani is described as a close collaborator of Masoud Molavi, an Iranian intelligence agent who defected and revealed details of Iranian influence operations overseas.
Molavi was shot dead on the streets of Istanbul on November 14. He had been granted asylum in Turkeyafter fleeing Iran and had set up a digital channel, BlackBox, which he used to broadcast revelations about corruption and wrongdoing within the Iranian regime.
The U.S. government blamed his assassination on Iran's intelligence services.
Describing Iranian government influence operations in other countries, Sassani said that "Masoud talked to me about someone by the name of Majid Jowhari. He's a member of the Parliament of Canada. He's from the Liberal Party, representing Richmond Hill.
"He said that Jowhari was in touch with some of the intelligence officers of Iran, and that he even visited the representatives of Taeb and Mojtaba Khamenei. He even received financial support from these people.
"Now he's been elected in Canada for a second time."
Hossein Taeb is the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) intelligence division. Mojtaba Khamenei is a son of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and is sometimes described as head of the Basij militia, a pro-regime force that is heavily involved in suppressing protests in Iran.
Since 2010, the IRGC has been a listed entity under Canada's Special Economic Measures Act. The law prohibits Canadians from engaging in any financial, service or goods-related transactionswith listed entities and individuals; Hossein Taebhimself is a listed individual under the law. Part of the IRGC is also listed as a terrorist group in Canada.
Mojtaba Khamenei has not been named as a listedindividual under the Special Economic Measures Act. He was, however, designated last month by the U.S. TreasuryDepartment "for representing the Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position aside from work in the office of his father," according to a press release. The assets of those designated by Treasury are blocked, and Americans are banned from dealing with them.
"The Supreme Leader has delegated a part of his leadership responsibilities to Mojataba Khamenei, who worked closely with the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and also the Basij Resistance Force (Basij) to advance his father's destabilizing regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives," says the Treasury release.
Jowharisaid today that he's being singled out "without a shred of evidence ...
"Those who spread these slanderous and baseless accusations want to instigate hate and fear without providing a single fact to support it. We should stand together against this hateful behaviour."
The allegation is already drawing pointed political reaction, with Conservative Sen. Linda Frum calling for an investigation.
It's not the first time Jowhari has had to push back against claims that he is close to the regime in Iran.
Shortly after he was elected in 2015, he was heavily criticized for inviting three Iranian parliamentarians to visit him in his riding office. He also drew negative attention for some of his tweets including one he sent out during the wave of protests that shook Iran in December 2017.
Jowhari said he hoped the protesters would be able to demonstrate "with the support of their elected government".
Jowhari was condemned by many Iranian-Canadians for appearing to suggest that the regime was "elected"and that it was supporting protesters. In fact, government forces were suppressing the protests with considerable bloodshed.
Thomas Juneau researches Middle Eastern affairs at the University of Ottawa and is a former strategic analyst at the Department of National Defence.
Last year, he conducted a research project on the debate over whether Canada should re-establish ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran, a hugely controversial topic in the Iranian-Canadian community.
Advocates of re-engagement include both regime supportersand people who merely want to make it easier to visit family in Iran or send help to family members in the country.
"[Jowhari's] name did come up on a number of occasions. He was known inside the Liberal caucus as one of the main proponents of re-engagement with Iran a view that I agree with," he said."But he was viewed as being a bit too much of a proponent of that view and a bit too much with individuals associated with the Islamic Republic."
Juneau says many of those he spoke to who supported re-engagement were still reluctant to be seen associating with Jowhari, who had a "controversial history".
But he cautions that an allegation made by an "individual associated with a dead Iranian spy" falls far short of the evidence he would need to see to conclude that Jowhari crossed a line.
"To label an individual an asset of a foreign government is a very serious accusation, and it has to be made on the basis of clear information,"he said. "And we do not have we're not even close to having enough information publicly available to make that accusation toward that MP."
Shortly before the federal election in October, a email was widely distributed in the Richmond Hill riding drafted byLiberals who said they had come "to the regrettable conclusion that we simply could not vote for" Majid Jowhari.
The email quoted four prominent Liberals: former Ontario cabinet minister Reza Moridi, who represented the provincial riding of Richmond Hill for over a decade; Bryon Wilfert, who previously held the federal riding for the Liberal Party; Sarkis Assadourian, who represented the federal riding of Brampton Centre for the Liberals; and Richard Rupp, past president of the Richmond Hill federal Liberal riding association.
In their email, they state that their decision is "based on a review of the Liberal candidate's record and of various media reports regarding some of his activities over the past four years."
They did not give details on which aspects of Jowhari's record they took issue with.
"Team Jowhari" responded on the MP's Facebook page: "This communication represents the worst type of campaign tactics a non-specific note from a group who do not have the courage of their convictions to say what party and policies they do support but are prepared to say only what they don't support."
Link:
'False and unfounded': Liberal MP denies claims that he's worked with Iran - CBC.ca
- Liberal Jews Deluded Themselves on Palestine - Tablet Magazine - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Western Oregon University joins the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges - The Journal - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Justin Trudeau digs in after Liberal drubbing in Toronto by-election - POLITICO - POLITICO - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Opinion | Fanlund, Soglin's views on housing betray liberal values - The Capital Times - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- The Memo: Liberal fears build over Supreme Court Trump immunity decision - The Hill - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Byelection shocker: Is this the end of the road for Justin Trudeau's political career? - The Conversation - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Opinion: Dumping Trudeau won't save the Liberals - The Globe and Mail - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Liberal MP denies political motivation behind decision to increase amount of northern cod to be caught - CBC.ca - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Former 'Young and the Restless' star calls out Hollywood for not being 'liberal, progressive industry' - Fox News - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Liberal Arts alumna finds post-graduation success through bioethics program - Penn State University - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Voters in long-time Liberal B.C. riding react to Tories' byelection win in Toronto - News-Press Now - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Don't Be Fooled By Liberalism's Modesty - The New Republic - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- What would a Reform surge do to Labour and the Liberal Democrats? Two scenarios mapped - The Conversation - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- LEVY: St. Paul's voters were fed up with Liberal arrogance and elitism - True North - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- How Faucis Book Has Been Covered by Liberal and Conservative Media - The New York Times - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Gaza Genocide: Origin Stories, Liberal Zionists, and the Need for a Palestine-Centered Narrative - Palestine Chronicle - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Justin Trudeau suffers shock by-election defeat in Liberal stronghold - The Telegraph - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Sea to Sky MP reacts to Liberal loss of Toronto heartland seat - Pique Newsmagazine - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- 'We need to regroup,' says Liberal minister and Ontario campaign co-chair in light of byelection loss - CTV News - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Conservatives win longtime Liberal stronghold Toronto-St. Paul's in shock byelection result - CBC.ca - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Voters in long-time Liberal B.C. riding react to Tories' byelection win in Toronto - CBC.ca - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Mark Rutte: The liberal stalwart headed for NATO's top job - DW (English) - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Liberal minister tells MPs to stop 'navel-gazing,' get back to work after Toronto byelection fiasco - National Post - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Liberal minister tells MPs to 'stop the navel-gazing' and get back to work after Toronto byelection loss - MSN - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Opinion: Regardless of leader, the Liberals are at risk of a worse fate after Toronto-St. Paul's by-election - The Globe and Mail - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Bill Maher Nukes Stupid Liberal Ideas During Incredible Rant: VIDEO - Outkick - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Conservatives take Toronto-St. Paul's riding in major upset for Liberals - The Globe and Mail - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Conservatives win longtime Liberal stronghold of Toronto-St. Paul's - Toronto Sun - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- For opposing genocide, Bowman is framed as antisemitic by liberal Zionists - Mondoweiss - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Opinion | Whats Stopping Liberals From Having Kids? - The New York Times - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- What went wrong for the EU election-losing Greens and Liberals? - Euronews - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Increase in Liberal Views Brings Ideological Parity on Social Issues - Gallup.com - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Donald Trump Calls Taylor Swift Unusually Beautiful, Questions Whether Her Liberal Views Are An Act - Billboard - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Liberal Media Scream: The View says black people not allowed to leave the Democratic plantation - Washington Examiner - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Trump Wonders If Taylor Swift Is Just Pretending To Be Liberal - HuffPost - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- 'Is That Just An Act?' Trump Questions 'Unusually Beautiful' Taylor Swift's Liberal Views - International Business Times - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Liberal columnist warns that having a fitness routine turns you into a 'right-wing jerk' - Fox News - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Vote liberal in the 2024 European elections! - ALDE Party - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Trump Says Taylor Swift Is 'Unusually Beautiful,' Bemoans Her Being Liberal - TMZ - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Opinion: The Liberal government's response to foreign interference is UltraBasic - The Globe and Mail - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Donald Trump on Taylor Swift: 'Unusually Beautiful' But 'Liberal' - Jezebel - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Trump Questions Whether 'Unusually Beautiful' Taylor Swift Is 'Legitimately Liberal' - The Daily Wire - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Trump: 'Beautiful' Taylor Swift may not be the liberal she claims - The Times - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- The Waning Patriotism of Modern Liberals: A Call to Rediscover National Pride - ASEAN NOW - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Conservative mom who fled to Idaho to escape liberal politics claims family was BULLIED for being from Califor - Daily Mail - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Donald Trump Wonders if Taylor Swift Being a Liberal Is 'Just an Act' - PopCrush - June 11th, 2024 [June 11th, 2024]
- Fox News Anchor Comes Unglued, Berates 'Dumb' Liberal Colleague - The Daily Beast - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Mathew Chandy '24, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - UConn Today - University of Connecticut - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Will No One Rid Me Of These Meddlesome -Isms: Thinking and Rethinking Liberalism - Front Porch Republic - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Why market demand doesn't capture the value of the liberal arts | Letters - Tampa Bay Times - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- See what the students were wearing for the School of Liberal Studies at Savannah High prom - Savannah Morning News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Is a $330000 liberal arts education still 'worth it?' - Los Angeles Loyolan - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Judge installed by liberal Democrats over centrist Hochul pick responsible for Harvey Weinstein ruling - New York Post - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Liberal Cities, Conservative Towns Seek Supreme Court's Help on Homelessness - The Wall Street Journal - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Luke Grimes on Yellowstones liberal critics: A lot of people see a cowboy hat and think, thats not for me - The Independent - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Liberal pundits really do have weekly meetings to 'shape' message on Trump - Washington Times - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Trump slams 'Bidenomics' ahead of court, claims to have a 'good chance' of winning liberal state - Fox News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Ones a Conservative, Ones a Liberal. Heres Their Secret to Friendship. - InsideHook - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Bill Cotterell: What? NPR is liberal? Say it ain't so - Tallahassee Democrat - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Orban: Hungary is island in the European progressive liberal ocean - bne IntelliNews - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- NY Times keeps spotlight on NPR crisis on heels of Uri Berliner blowing whistle on liberal bias - Fox News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- CPAC Hungary: ex Polish PM Morawiecki warns of "destructive ideas of liberal elites" - Notes From Poland - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- The biggest threat to freedom in the West is liberalism itself - The New Statesman - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Letter: NPR Editor Berliner reveals liberal bias of network - Arizona Daily Star - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Chicago native says residents livid over liberal mayor's new migrant funding, ready to vote for Trump - Fox News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Ontario Liberal leader says Dresden landfill project could be nixed with 'stroke of a pen' - The Chatham Daily News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Opinion: The Liberals' immigration policies have accomplished the opposite of what was intended - The Globe and Mail - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- At Issue | Was the Liberal budget a bust with Canadians? - CBC.ca - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Have the Liberal Arts Gone Conservative? - The New Yorker - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Letters to the Editor: 'I see myself in Katie Britt' what liberal critics missed in the senator's response - Los Angeles Times - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Even when it criticizes Israel, the liberal world is not against us - opinion - The Jerusalem Post - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Former Trump Aide Alyssa Farah Griffin Becomes a Liberal Favorite - The New York Times - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Renowned author, liberal arts proponent to deliver annual Lester Lectures - Mercer University - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- NYU to Host Zaheer Ali at the Annual Liberal Studies Student Research ColloquiumApril 5 - NYU - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Power to the Neighborhoods!: New York City Growth Politics, Neighborhood Liberalism, and the Origins of the ... - Joint Center for Housing Studies - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Canada's Conservatives back NDP-Liberal anti-scab legislation that undermines the right to strike - WSWS - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- The Surprising Left-Right Alliance That Wants More Apartments in Suburbs - The New York Times - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- PARKER: Clarence Thomas, liberal racism and the ongoing denigration of Black conservatives - Kankakee Daily Journal - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Liberal Media Scream: Hollywoods freaks over Trump - Washington Examiner - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Why liberals failed in the fight against antisemitism - JNS.org - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]