The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) said it is investigating death threats from Iran allegedly targeting dissidents of the Islamic regime based in Canada.
“CSIS is aware of hostile state actors, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, monitoring and intimidating Canadian communities, particularly in the diaspora. The tactics and tools used for this purpose include cyber espionage and threats to silence those who speak openly against them,” SCRC spokesman Eric Balsam said in a written statement.
The federal organization added that it “takes these threats seriously” and calls on victims to tell their stories to CSIS to help the investigation progress. CSIS said it is working in partnership with the Iranian-Canadian community to investigate reported death threats. Their number has not been specified.
“These hostile activities and foreign interference undermine the security of Canada and Canadians, in addition to our democratic values and our sovereignty,” continued Mr. Balsam.
Iran is currently trying to quell a protest movement that has been making itself heard for months, but has intensified further in the past few days.
The federal government confirmed on Monday that it designated “the Islamic Republic of Iran as a regime that has engaged in terrorism and systematic and gross violations of human rights.” In doing so, tens of thousands of regime officials, including members of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, were barred from entering Canada.