'Canada to probe killings of Iranians'

The Canadian foreign ministry has announced Ottawa's plan to launch a "transparent" investigation into the murders of three Iranians killed in Canada.

Canada's decision to probe the deaths of Iranians killed in Canada over the past six months came upon receiving a letter from Iran's Caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, AFP reported on January 7.

“Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon learned of the letter from Iranian [Caretaker] Foreign Minister (Ali Akbar) Salehi through the Iranian press on Wednesday, January 5,” Melissa Lantsman, Cannon's spokeswoman said adding, “Regrettably, the letter was only delivered today, January 6.”

“All three cases are under the purview of the police departments in the jurisdictions where the deaths took place. We are confident that local authorities will investigate and prosecute criminals based on the evidence, in a fair and transparent manner,” she went on to say.

In a message to Lawrence Cannon on Wednesday, Salehi highlighted the responsibility of Canada in protecting the rights of Iranians residents in the country.

Iran's Foreign Ministry has warned the Canadian foreign affairs department about the declining level of security in Canada for Iranians over the past months which has led to the deaths of three people.

The Foreign Ministry also cautioned Iranian nationals against travelling to Canada as the new wave of Islamophobia is sweeping across the North American country.

Many Muslims, particularly Iranians, have been deprived of their social and political rights and Canadian police have proven to be incapable of following the cases filed by Iranians residing in Canada, Foreign Ministry said in a recent statement.

According to the statement, the crime rate has soared in Canada recently, hence Iranian visitors may fall victim to various felony offenses in that country.


/Press TV/