Iranian Road Director presents Canadian Refugee Council's Deportation Hearing – National
The former director-general of Iran's Roads ministry appeared before the Immigration and Refugee Commission on Thursday, as Canadian officials continued their efforts to expel members of the top regime from the country.
Since Ottawa suppressed them in 2022, Afshin Pirnoon is one of 20 senior officials suspected of living in Canada as they participate in a regime that weakens human rights and supports terrorism.
The 49-year-old said he was working as an Uber driver, speaking through a Borsey interpreter as he faced questions about his role in suppressing the Iranian government before arriving in Canada in 2022 and filed a refugee claim.
The Canadian Border Service claims that as Director General of Iran's Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, Pineen is a senior official serving the Islamic Republic.
Therefore, the CBSA claims that he does not allow him to be deported in Canada. The Refugee Commission hearing was to determine whether the CBSA had a reasonable case against him.
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Photos from the Iranian government and news websites show Pirnoon at the event along with political and religious leaders. He can also be seen attending formal meetings, conducting interviews and giving speeches.
Afshin Pirnoon, who was seen here in Iran, appeared before the Immigration and Refugee Commission on Thursday.
Iranian Ministry of Roads and Urban Development
Pirnoon is a civil engineer with a master's degree and has worked with the Iranian government for 22 years. Until 2022.
But he denied any decision-making power or influence he had and said he had saved “so many lives” as a road safety expert. He added that working in the government does not mean supporting it.
“All I have done so far in my life is to protect human life,” he said. “Since I started living here, I have tried my best to show the good citizens of Canadian society.”
The decision to his case was not expected until later this year.
The Canadian government announced in 2022 that it had banned senior Iranian officials from coming from the country and would be deported.
The measure is a response to Tehran’s brutal crackdown on women’s rights demonstrations and Iran’s state sponsorship of terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Yemeni’s Hotis.
Immigration law enforcement officers have investigated dozens of regime officials believed to have been resettled in Canada since the federal government stepped up pressure on Tehran.
But so far, only two hearings have resulted in deportation, with only one former regime official being sent back to Iran, although the CBSA said several others were voluntarily leaving.
stewart.bell@globalnews.ca
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