An alleged senior member of the Iranian regime has “voluntarily departed Canada” days before she was to face deportation proceedings, Global News has learned.
Elham Zandi left the country after the Canada Border Services Agency signaled its intention to expel her by asking the Immigration and Refugee Board to carry a hearing.
She is the third suspected high-ranking member of the Iranian government to depart Canada after being targeted under sanctions adopted just over two years ago.
Global News reported last week that the CBSA had withdrawn its case against Zandi. On the time, officials didn’t explain why.
But documents released to Global News show Zandi opted to depart Canada on Feb. 25, upfront of her deportation case, which was scheduled to start on March 7.
In consequence, the IRB closed her file.
Zandi is amongst 18 alleged senior Iranian regime members found living in Canada for the reason that government launched a crackdown against them in 2022.
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Top officials of the Islamic Republic were barred from the country in response to Tehran’s brutal suppression of Woman, Life, Freedom movement protesters.
To this point, only one such official has been deported, but two others have now left voluntarily, including Zandi. One other stays in Canada despite a deportation order.
The IRB declined to issue deportation orders in two further cases and the rest remain ongoing.
Initially, Zandi got here to Canada claiming to be a tourist but once here, she applied for a piece permit. When she didn’t get one, she sued Canada for $10,000.
Based on documents released by the Federal Court, the office of Liberal MP Patrick Weiler made repeated inquiries to the immigration department in regards to the status of her work permit.
The British Columbia MP’s office said it was unaware of the CBSA allegations against Zandi and was responding to a request by her daughter, who’s a constituent.
Iran is the state sponsor of terror groups Hezbollah and Hamas, which attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, triggering a military response in Gaza and region-wide conflict.
It has also been accused of attempting to silence dissidents and critics in Canada, amongst them activists and former Liberal MP Irwin Cotler, who was allegedly targeted for assassination.
In her report on foreign interference, commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue wrote that community members had told her Iranian officials lived “openly and freely in Canada.”
Iranian Canadian activists have challenged the federal government to do higher job of screening out regime members and supporters they are saying are treating the country as a refuge.
The CBSA held a deportation hearing two weeks ago for Amin Yousefijam, a Toronto-based Iranian national who has used multiple identities and was convicted within the U.S. of helping Iran evade sanctions.
Stewart.Bell@globalnews.ca
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