از آنرو که هییت مدیره های
کنگره لزومی برای حفظ اطلاعات از سالی به سال
دیگر نمی بینند، این صفحه بوجود آمده است تا
که اطلاعات را ثبت نموده و تاریخچه ای برای
کنگره بوجود
آورد. در تصحیح اطلاعات ما را
یاری کنید. |
دوره چهارم - 2012 |
یکشنبه
5 می 2013، دوره پنجم
مجمع عمومی سالانه کنگره ایرانیان کانادا در سالن
هتل شرایتون برگزار شد.
تعداد اعضای حاضر در مجمع عمومی 250 نفر .پس از رای گیری و شمارش آرای 340 تن از اعضای کنگره، آرا به
شرح زیر اعلام شد:
1ـ مریم نایب یزدی 180 رای
(عضو موقت انتصابی دوره قبل)
2ـ یسنا بهشتی 169 رای
(عضو موقت انتصابی دوره قبل)
۳- سارا تخشا ۱۶۶
(عضو موقت انتصابی دوره قبل)
۴- شهلا غفوری 162
۵- سیما تاجدینی ۱۶۰
۶- علیرضا جهانگیر ۱۳۷
۷- آرشام پارسی ۷۴
۸- مهدی شمس ۵۰
9- حسن زارع زاده
اردشیر انصراف اعتراضی
10- آزاد شهنواز انصراف اعتراضی
11- اردلان شجاعی عدم حضور
12- سیما زرهی انصراف
چند روز قبل از انتخابات
انتخابات کنگره ایرانیان
کانادا برگزار شد - فرح طاهری - شهروند |
Connecting with the Global Dialogue on the Future of Iran
May 9, 2013
global dialogue iranThe Munk School of Global Affairs
will launch the inaugural Global Dialogue on the Future of
Iran (hosted by the Munk School in Toronto, with support of
the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Canada - DFAIT). This is a two day conference starting May
10th – May 11th, 2013.
The objectives of the initiative are focused on creating
political space for public dialogue among Iranians on the
future of Iran. As such, the Global Dialogue is committed to
exploring ideas from voices that are as varied and as
representative as possible.
Participants can look forward to dialogue on a number of
important themes:
· The Iranian Economy: Prosperity or Poverty? · Political
Participation and the Obstacles to Freedom in Iran ·
Defending Rights, Diversity and Equality for Women · Open
Session: What’s on the Minds of our Online Global Dialogue
Participants? (Topics crowd-sourced from Iranians inside and
outside Iran.) · Diplomacy with Iran – Escaping Isolation
The Munk School will use a full range of media tools to
broadcast, record, and document the dialogue as it unfolds
(ensuring it is widely available to the Iranian public
during and after the event.) In addition, participants at
the event itself will be encouraged to provide their
thoughts through direct-to-camera short interviews that will
be immediately made available on the Global Dialogue website
and through social media.
The official website is www.theglobaldialogue.ca, and the
countdown to the official launch has begun.
Watching the Event
The Global Dialogue on the Future of Iran will be
broadcast live (on May 10th and 11th) via YouTube and Google
Hangouts. Tune in to www.theglobaldialogue.ca during the
conference for the latest link to each session. Refresh the
homepage for the latest link.
Participating in the Event
If you would like to participate and connect, both during
and after the event, you will find al list of alternatives
you may choose from:
1. Connect directly on Twitter (www.twitter.com/gdfilive)
and Facebook (www.facebook.com/TheGlobalDialogue) so you can
be followed and updated on the latest information related to
the Dialogue.
2. Visit the official Google Moderator page
(www.google.com/moderator/#16/e=209f57) where you can pose
ideas for crowd-sourced session on day two of the
conference. Pose questions and comments that you think
should be included as part of the other thematic sections of
the dialogue.
3. Share this message with your friends/family and
networks and encourage them to contribute their comments and
questions on the subjects to be covered in the dialogue, as
well as ideas for the crowd-sourced session. If they cannot
connect to any of these channels above, they can connect
with at munkschool@utoronto.ca for help.
The ICC encourages the Iranian Canadian Community to get
involved and add their voices to the discussions. By
participating, you can help ensure that the voices of
Iranians inside Iran are heard.
_________________________________________________________
درباره گفت و گوی جهانی درباره آینده ایران
موسسه آموزشی امور جهانی مانک بتاریخ دهم و یازدهم ماه می
3102 اقدام به برگزاری گشایشی گفت و گوی جهانی درباره آینده
ایران )به همت موسسه آموزشی مانک در تورنتو با همیاری وزارت
امور خارجه و تجارت بین المللی کانادا( مینماید. در این رویداد
ویژه، شخصیتهای ایرانی خواستار آگاهی از چندگونگی نظراتی که
باید ضمن برگزاری انتخابات مردم ساالری شنیده شود، حضور خواهند
داشت.
گفت و گوی جهانی، موجب گشایش شبکه های ارتباطی بین ایرانیان
و نیز مشارکت فعاالنه مجازی از داخل ایران ضمن برگزاری این گفت
و شنود میشود. طیفی از گزیده ها در اختیار کسانی که از طریق
اینترنت شرکت میکنند، قرار میگیرد تا بتوانند در طول برگزاری
این رویداد، پرسشها و نظراتی ابراز و نیز در رهنمود مسائل مورد
بحث بطور زنده شرکت جویند. گفت و گوی جهانی متعهد است که نظرات
ابرازی از قول کسانی را مورد کاوش قرار دهد که حتی المقدور
متنوع باشند. موضوعات مهم مورد بحث از جمله عبارتند از:
اقتصاد ایران: شکوفائی یا فقر؟ مشارکت سیاسی و موانع بر سر
آزادی در ایران دفاع از حقوق و چندگونگی و برابری برای زنان
نشست آزاد: نظرات شرکت کنندگان گفت و گوی جهانی از طریق
اینترنت چیست؟ دیپلماسی با ایران – فرار از انزوا موسسه
آموزشی مانک ضمن کاربرد طیف وسیعی از ابزار و وسائل الزم،
برنامه گفت و گوی مزبور را پخش و ضبط و بصورت سند حفظ مینماید
)از نظر حصول اطمینان از قابلیت دسترسی عامه ایرانیان به آن در
طول و نیز پس از برگزاری آن(. عالوه بر این، شرکت کنندگان حاضر
در این رویداد تشویق میشوند که مصاحباتی کوتاه جلو دوربین
انجام دهند که بالفاصله در تارنمای گفت و گوی جهانی و نیز در
وسائل ارتباط جمعی در دسترس قرار خواهند گرفت. هدف ما اینستکه
ضمن تبدیل گفت و گوی جهانی به طرحی پویا، صدای مردم ساالری
ایران را هم پیش و هم پس از برگزاری انتخابات در ماه جون سال
جاری، هرچه رساتر سازیم. کوششهای ما معطوف است به ایجاد فضای
سیاسی برای گفتمان عمومی بین ایرانیان راجع به آینده ایران.
میخواهیم شما را تشویق به تشریک اطالعات درباره این گفتمان با
هر کسی کنیم که عالقمند به رساندن صدای ایرانیان ً یا از طریق
تارنمای خود در این گفتمان شرکت جوئید، لطفا ً سراسر جهان و
داخل ایران میباشند. چنانچه میخواهید شخصا به تارنمای ما
http://www.theglobaldialogue.ca مراجعه کرده هر آنچه را که
میخواهید با ما تماس و سهیم و مشارکت نمائید. چگونگی تماس و
تسهیم و مشارکت تماشای برنامه گفت و گوی جهانی درباره آینده
ایران بطور زنده روزهای 01 و 00 ماه می از طریق YouTube و
Global Hangouts پخش میشود. در طول کنفرانس جهت آگاهی از آخرین
اخبار مربوط به این همایش به .www.theglobaldialogue.caمراجعه
نمائید. جهت اطالع از آخرین آدرس ارتباطی، تماس با صفحه مربوطه
را تکرار کنید. کارشناسان ما از محل برگزاری، از طریق twitter
رسمی گفت و گوی جهانی http://twitter.com/gdfilive بطور زنده
تماس خود را حفظ میکنند. ضمن تماس با ما با اشاره به gdfilive@
پرسشهای خود را مطرح، نظرات خود را ابراز و پیشنهادات خود را
در باره موضوعات مورد طرح جلسه روز شنبه اعالم نمائید. گزینه
های زبان تماما فارسی یا انگلیسی گوش کنند فراهم خواهد بود.
این گزینه ً ارتباط صوتی زنده برای کسانی که بخواهند برنامه را
به برای شنوندگان مناطق طول موج ضعیف با میزان bit پائین پخش
میگردد. مدت کوتاهی پس از برگزاری این کنفرانس، پیاده کردن آن
بصورت MP3 از طریق تارنمای گفت و گوی جهانی امکان پذیر خواهد
بود. به صفحه Participate در تارنمای www.theglobaldialogue.ca
مراجعه نمائید. طرح پرسش و مشارکت از طریق اینترنت گفت و گوی
جهانی ضمن استفاده از Google Moderator گفتمان مزبور را بروی
تمامی شرکت کنذدگان سراسر جهان باز میکند. جهت طرح پرسش مستقیم
یا دادن رأی برای سوال مورد نظر، ضمن مراجعه به صفحه Google
Moderator با ما تماس حاصل فرمائید. میتوانید بدون اعالم نام
خود، نظرات خویش را اعالم کنید. برای طرح پرسش و رأی دادن به
http://goo.gl/mod/lccm مراجعه فرمائید. نحوه تماس با ما به
انتخاب شماست
(Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google) پرسشها و
نظرات خود را به سلیقه خود برای ما بفرستید. ما بگوش هستیم!
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/gdfilive
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/theglobaldialogue
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/theglobaldialogue
Google+Page: http://goo.gl/MADdR
http://iccongress.ca/announcement/connecting-global-dialogue-future-iran#sthash.kMHrFiBA.dpuf
|
ICC Holds Fifth Annual General Meeting
May 8, 2013
On Sunday, May 5, 2013, the Iranian Canadian Congress
(ICC) held its fifth Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the
Sheraton Parkway Hotel in Richmond Hill with more than 340
registered members participating in the election.
Farrokh Zandi the President of the ICC
commenced the pro- gram with the annual activities report of
2012. He spoke of
- the ICC’s efforts to restructure and
optimize the organization,
- increase the ICC media presence,
and
- enhance its influence among officials at all levels of
government. Dr. Zandi noted that
- a main aspiration of the
ICC is to ensure the Iranian Canadian youth, in particular
second generation Iranian Canadians, are engaged in
community-related issues.
- He commented on the ICC’s swift and effective response
- to
the closure of the Iranian embassy in Canada and
- TD bank’s
decision to close the bank accounts of some Iranian Canadian
community members.
In addition, Dr. Zandi expressed his gratitude, on behalf
of the ICC, toward the tireless efforts and outstanding
achievements of former Board of Directors member, Mr. Kaveh
Shahrooz, Vice President and spokesperson of the ICC,
_ and
Advisory Board Members Mr. Reza Banai, Ms. Atoosa Mahdavian,
and Mr. Ali Vakili.
- The aforementioned Board Members
submitted their resignations prior to the AGM.
- Dr. Davod Kafai, Treasure of the ICC, presented the
financial report for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2012. The ICC’s financial position as of that date was -$
1,242.52. A motion to approve the Financial Report was
adopted by a majority vote.
- A question and answer segment followed Dr. Zandi and Dr.
Kafai’s presentations allowing members of the ICC to pose
questions and concerns.
- During the second section of the program, an election was
held to occupy five (5) vacant Board of Directors
positions..
- Prior to the candidate speeches, two one-time
motions were presented to waive the eligibility requirements
for a few candidates.
- The first Motion (to waive the
one-year membership eligibility requirement) was adopted by
a majority vote and
- the second Motion (to waive the Canadian
citizenship eligibility requirement) was not adopted by
majority vote.
- The election monitors, Ms. Rose Bahrami, Ms.
Minoo Derakhshan, Mr. Shahram Saremi, and Mr. Hossein
Zereshkian oversaw the entire election process, from the
registration of members to the counting of the ballots.
- Once the votes were cast, Ms. Maryam Nayeb Yazdi, Ms.
Yasna Beheshti, Ms. Sarah Takhsha, Ms. Shahla Ghafouri, and
Ms. Sima Tajdini were announced as the newly elected members
of the ICC’s Board of Directors. Election monitor, Ms.
Bahrami announced the election results.
- In its newest term, the ICC aims to create sub-committees
in hopes of engaging its members in activities related to
the ICC and the Iranian Canadian community. The initiatives
include revising the ICC’s Bylaws and adding Persian content
to the ICC website.
The Iranian Canadian Congress wishes to sincerely thank
all the members who came out and voted, the election
monitors, and the tremendous volunteers who assisted.
http://iccongress.ca/announcement/icc-holds-fifth-annual-general-meeting#sthash.NkRtG3Rh.dpuf |
Notice of Annual General Meeting
IMPORTANT NOTICE
The Annual General Meeting of the Iranian Canadian
Congress
The Board of Directors of the Iranian Canadian Congress
(“ICC”) hereby announces to its members and other members of
the community that its Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) will
be held on Sunday, May 5, 2013, 1:00pm, at the Sheraton
Parkway Hotel located at 600 Hwy 7 Richmond Hill, ON L4B
4R8.
The AGM agenda is as follows:
(1) A report to the members regarding the activities of
the ICC in the past year
(2) A financial report of the ICC’s finances since its
founding, and submission thereof for approval of the general
membership
(3) Proposal submitted for the approval of the membership
concerning revisions to the ICC’s bylaws (the proposed
changes will be announced via the media and the ICC website
prior to the AGM)
(4) Motion to waive one-year membership eligibility
requirement for candidacy
(5) Motion to waive Canadian citizenship eligibility
requirement for candidacy
(6) An introduction to the candidates seeking election to
the four vacant seats on the ICC’s Board of Directors,
followed by election for the four seats
(7) Announcement of election results.
It is hereby also announce that all eligible candidates
must declare their candidacy by 11:59 p.m., April 18, 2013.
Details on how to become a candidate, and the requirements
you must meet to become a candidate, are available by
clicking here.
In addition, we hereby also announce that to be eligible
to vote at the AGM, you must be a member of the ICC. It is
recommended that you become a member by no later than May 2,
2013.
Whether you were a member before, or are joining as a
member today, you must be electronically registered. To do
so, click here and fill in the information (including
assigning yourself a new password.) The $10 membership fee
will be collected at the AGM.
http://iccongress.ca/announcement/notice-annual-general-meeting#sthash.PHVHQk9N.dpuf
|
ICC To Host Second Democratic Engagement Program
Would you
like to learn more about Canada's political system?
The
Iranian Canadian Congress invites you to its 2nd annual
Democratic Engagement Program, a 1- day workshop that will
provide you with a basic understanding of Canada's political
process and how you may get involved. You will learn how to:
- Volunteer with a purpose - Understand the key elements of
an election campaign - Identify supporters and get out the
vote
Ideal program participants want to be involved in the
political process and are committed to supporting the
Iranian Canadian community achieve greater civic leadership.
Please RSVP to info@iccongress.ca by April 14th, 2013 as
spots are limited. (Or by phone at # 416-218-5550)
When:
Sunday, April 21st 2013, 11AM – 2PM
Where: 5100 Yonge St,
North York, Civic center, Committee Room # 4
کنگره ایرانیان کانادا برگزار میکند کنگره ایرانیان کانادا
با خوشوقتی به اطلاع میرساند که کارگاه یک روزه Democratic
Engagement Program را در ماه آپریل برگزار میکند.در این
برنامه ضمن آشنایی با ساختارها و روند کارکرد نهادهای سیاسی
کانادا میآموزید که چگونه میتوان داوطلب فعال برگزاری
انتخابات شد و در حوزه های انتخاباتی استان انتاریو و همچنین
دولت فدرال شرکت کرد . در این کارگاه شما : * با اصول اساسی یک
کمپین انتخاباتی آشنا می شوید * میآموزید که چگونه داوطلب با
هدفی باشید * و چه گونه رای دهندگان را تشویق و متقاعد کنید تا
در انتخابات شرکت کنند شرکت کنندگان در این برنامه با یاد گیری
نحوه مشارکت در روند فعالیتهای سیاسی قادر خواهند شد که با
حمایت از جامعه ایرانی-کانادایی مدیریت شهروندی مورد نظرشان را
به مرحله اجرا درآورند. به دلیل محدود بودن جا از علاقمندان به
شرکت در این برنامه تقاضا میشودهرچه زود تر با ایمیل info@iccongress.ca
ویا تلفن:416-218-5550 تماس بگیرند. زمان:شنبه ٢١ آوریل ٢٠١٣
از ساعت١١ صبح تا ٢ بعدازظهر مکان:5100 خیابان یانگ، سیویک
سنتر نورت یورک اتاق اجتماعات شماره
4
http://iccongress.ca/announcement/icc-host-second-democratic-engagement-program#sthash.tYIq4eo3.dpuf
|
CANDIDATES FOR THE ICC BOARD OF DIRECTORS; OTHER AGM
INFORMATION
April 19, 2013
The ICC’s “Call for Nominations” for the
election of four (4) members of its board of
directors was announced on March 22, 2013.
The deadline for nominations was set for
11:59 p.m. on April 18, 2013. The
nomination period is now closed and the
candidates have been determined.
http://iccongress.ca/news?page=8#sthash.1UKvaQjk.dpuf |
ICC SEEKS YOUR INPUT ON PROPOSED BYLAW
REVISIONS
April 15, 2013
http://iccongress.ca/news?page=8#sthash.ZUcpOFt2.dpuf |
ICC Hosts Successful Achievement Awards Gala
APRIL 8, 2013
On April 5, 2013, the Iranian Canadian Congress hosted
its first annual ICC Achievement Awards Gala at Toronto’s
glamorous Royal York Hotel. The event was attended by over
850 community members and was among the most successful
Iranian-Canadian events ever held.
Elected officials at the federal, provincial, and
municipal levels and from all three major political parties
were present. Also in attendance were the two
Iranian-Canadian elected officials: the Honourable Dr. Reza
Moridi (MPP Richmond Hill and Minister of Innovation and
Research) and Dr. Amir Khadir (Quebec Member of National
Assembly, Riding of Mercier). Messages of support for the
ICC were also received from the Honourable Jason Kenney,
Canada’s Minister of Immigration and Citizenship, the
Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario, and the
Honourable Michael Coteau, Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship
and Immigration.
- ICC Board and Achievement Award Winners
During this award ceremony, the ICC celebrated the
success of the Iranian-Canadian community in general, and in
particular the achievements of three stellar individuals.
The winners of the three awards were Dr. Hadi Mahabadi
(achievement in science or medicine), Ms. Afkham Mardukhi
(achievement in social justice and civic service), and the
Honourable Dr. Reza Moridi (President’s Award for
outstanding contribution the Iranian-Canadian community.)
(Biographies of all winners can be read by clicking here.)
The master of ceremonies of the event was Yasna Beheshti,
a member of the ICC’s Board of Directors. The event featured
speeches by Dr. Farrokh Zandi (President of ICC),
Mr. Kaveh
Shahrooz (Vice President of ICC), Mr. David Mousavi (member
of the ICC’s board of directors) and Dr. Payam Akhavan
(member of the ICC’s Advisory Board.)
The ICC was honoured by the presence of a special guest,
music legend Dariush Eghbali. Mr. Eghbali was recognized for
his professional success and his community
engagement. He
delivered some prepared remarks in which he discussed the
importance of unity among citizens, the critical role played
by non-governmental organizations,
and the critical
importance of emphasizing human rights.
The evening’s entertainment was performed by well-known
Iranian-Canadian musician Babak Amini. Symbolizing the
fusion of our community’s Iranian and Canadian identities,
Amini and his band began the proceedings with a beautiful
rendition of “O Canada” performed with a mixture of Western
and Iranian instruments. Amini and vocalist
Mohammad Reza Sadeghi also closed the show with a captivating performance
of two classic Iranian songs.
It is the ICC’s belief that people of Iranian ethnicity
contribute to Canada every day in myriad ways. Regardless of
their profession, education, or income, many
Iranian-Canadians work hard each day to achieve success and
to give back to their communities. The intention of the ICC
Achievement Awards Gala was to
celebrate the central value
of hard work and community involvement and to honour those
who have made significant contributions to Canada while
remaining
engaged with the Iranian community.
http://iccongress.ca/announcement/icc-hosts-successful-achievement-awards-gala#sthash.TusQ97ZO.dpuf
منوهر میثاقی -
مقاله شهروند
فرح طاهری -
مقاله شهروند
مشهود
ناصری - مقاله سلام تورنتو
(کلیه اطلاعات سال های 2012 و 2013 توسط بیژن احمدی از سایت
کنگره حذف شده اند.)
|
|
ICC RECOGNIZES IRANIAN CANADIAN ACHIEVEMENT: DR. KEVIN ROD
March 23, 2013
The ICC is committed to encouraging
Iranian-Canadian participation in Canadian
society. We believe it is important that we
recognize outstanding achievement by
community members in Canada.

It is, therefore, with immense pleasure that
we congratulate Dr. Kevin Rod, a physician
and a Lecturer at the University of Toronto,
for being selected by the University of
Toronto's Department of Family and Community
Medicine (DFCM) as the recipient of the
2012-2013 Excellence for New Teachers
Award. Dr. Rod
is recognized for
his outstanding contribution to the DFCM and
will receive an award at a special ceremony,
hosted by UofT, on April 27, 2013.
- See more at: http://iccongress.ca/news?page=8#sthash.ZUcpOFt2.dpuf |
ICC To Host First Annual Achievement
Awards
The Iranian Canadian Congress invites you
to its FIRST ANNUAL ICC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS GALA, celebrating
the accomplishments of the Iranian-Canadian community in a
variety of fields. At this prestigious awards ceremony, the
ICC will present awards to a number of stellar individuals
who have made significant contributions to Canadian society.
Tickets go on sale on Friday, March 15,
2013. Tickets will not be available at the door and will
only be sold in advance. We hope you will join us in
celebrating our community's achievements.
THE ICC RECOGNITION AWARDS DATE: APRIL 5,
2013
VENUE: The Royal York Hotel 100 Front Street West,
Toronto (accessible by TTC at Union Station)
TIME: 6:30
(Registration) 7:30 (Awards Ceremony Followed by Dinner)
TICKETS: $50 A limited number of student tickets available
for $30
You can purchase tickets by calling the
ICC office at 416-218-5550 or sending an email to tickets@iccongress.ca
http://iccongress.ca/announcement/icc-host-first-annual-achievement-awards#sthash.EKehjJNK.dpuf |
MAYOR OF TORONTO SENDS NOWRUZ GREETING TO ICC
March 18, 2013
On March 14, 2013, Rob Ford, Mayor of
Toronto, sent an official greeting to the
President of the ICC on the occassion of
Nowruz, the first day of spring celebrated
by Iranians as the start of the new year.
In his message, the Mayor emphasized the
importance of Nowruz celebrations to the
city of Toronto and its multiculturalism.
The Mayor's letter can
be read here.
http://iccongress.ca/news?page=9#sthash.jnpJJkNl.dpuf |
ICC Encourages You To Become A Member
March 11, 2013
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the
Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) is coming up soon! We will
share with you the exact date, time, and location of the AGM
in the very near future. We will also soon distribute
information about how to become a candidate for the upcoming
ICC board elections.
Remember: to run as a candidate, to vote,
or to participate in the AGM, you must be a member of the
ICC.
IF YOU ARE AN ICC MEMBER, IT IS TIME TO
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP. CLICK THIS LINK AND COMPLETE THIS
ELECTRONIC FORM TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP. (Note: You must
choose a new password and enter your contact information.)
IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN A MEMBER IN THE
PAST OR YOUR MEMBERSHIP HAS EXPIRED, THE TIME TO SIGN UP AS
AN ICC MEMBER IS NOW. CLICK THIS LINK AND COMPLETE THIS FORM
TO BECOME A MEMBER. Each person, regardless of whether or
not he/she had ever signed up for membership in the past,
must register on the ICC site as a member to be eligible to
participate in the AGM. Any questions should be directed to
membership@iccongress.ca.
http://iccongress.ca/announcement/icc-encourages-you-become-member#sthash.N4T2fiSk.dpuf |
ICC CONGRATULATES DR. REZA MORIDI, ONTARIO'S NEW MINISTER OF
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
February 11, 2013
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne unveiled her
new Cabinet today and named Dr. Reza Moridi,
the Member of Provincial Parliament from
Richmond Hill, as the new Ontario Minister
of Research and Innovation. Dr. Moridi is
an award-winning scientist and engineer and
has represented the riding of Richmond Hill
since 2007. He is the first
Iranian-Canadian to achieve such a position
in Canada.
http://iccongress.ca/news?page=9#sthash.jnpJJkNl.dpuf |
ICC RECOGNIZES IRANIAN-CANADIAN ACHIEVEMENT: MS. BAILEY (BAHAREH)
VAEZ
January 10, 2013
The ICC is committed to encouraging
Iranian-Canadian participation in Canadian
society. As such, we believe it is
important that we recognize outstanding
achievement by community members in Canada.
The ICC therefore wishes to take this
opportunity to recognize the recent
achievement by Ms. Bailey (Bahareh) Vaez,
who was recently given the Telus Future
Leaders Award and listed by the Financial
Post among the Top 100 Most Powerful Women
in Canada.
http://iccongress.ca/news?page=9#sthash.jnpJJkNl.dpuf |
January 9, 2013
ICC MEMBER, CHANGIZ SADR, SEEKS PEO COUNCILLOR SEAT
The ICC is committed to encouraging Iranian-Canadian
participation in Canadian society. We are therefore
delighted to inform you that a member of the ICC, Mr.
Changiz Sadr, is running for the East Central Region
Councillor of the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO)
for 2013. Members of the following chapters of PEO are
eligible to vote for Mr. Sadr: East Toronto, Lake Ontario,
Scarborough, Simcoe Muskoka, Willowdale/Thornhill and York.
Aside from his community involvement, Mr. Sadr is the
past-chair of the Willowdale/Thornhill chapter of PEO, and
has held several positions with the board of the executives
including Chair (2008 to 2010) and Vice Chair (2005 to
2008).
Mr. Sadr has received Engineers Canada's
Fellowship Certificate (FEC) in 2010. He has also received
the PEO Order of Honour Award in 2011, as well as the
Ontario Volunteer Service Award for serving PEO on March 26,
2012, which was his third Ontario Volunteer Service Award.
Mr. Sadr is a telecom engineer by education, and works as an
ICT consultant.
To learn more about Mr. Sadr’s candidacy,
you can visit his site and his election Facebook page.
A copy of Mr. Sadr's election poster can be seen below.
Voting will start on January 25th and be on until March 1st,
and be conducted online only. The ICC wishes Mr. Sadr
well in this election.
http://iccongress.ca/articles/icc-member-changiz-sadr-seeks-peo-councillor-seat#sthash.eR1Z6txk.dpuf
|
January 7, 2012
ICC RECOGNIZES IRANIAN-CANADIAN ACHIEVEMENT:
DR. HADI MAHABADI
The ICC is committed to encouraging
Iranian-Canadian participation in Canadian
society. As such, we believe it is
important that we recognize outstanding
achievement by community members in Canada.

The ICC therefore wishes to take this
opportunity to (belatedly) recognize the
incredible achievement of Hadi Mahabadi,
Ph.D., F.C.A.E.
http://iccongress.ca/news?page=9#sthash.jnpJJkNl.dpuf |
January 6, 2013
ICC Encourages Participation in OneMatch Event
The ICC has recently has learned that a
young Iranian-Canadian woman suffering from leukemia is in
need of a bone marrow transplant. Shahrzad Jabbarian,
a 24 year old woman in the Greater Toronto Area, was
diagnosed with the illness in September 2012.
Medical professionals have indicated that
the best way to find a bone marrow match is to seek a donor
in her cultural community. At present, there are very few
Iranians in the Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry. The
ideal candidates are males between the ages of 17-35. Others
are certainly encouraged to be tested.
An important information and testing
session will be taking place on Saturday January 19, 2013
from 1:00 pm-7:00 pm at Persian Palace (full details below).
The information session will be delivered by OneMatch Stem
Cell and Marrow Network, a network under the auspices of
Canadian Blood Services. A donor screening process will
follow thereafter.
The ICC encourages all community members
to attend this session and to share this message with other
members of the Iranian-Canadian community.
Your attendance will help increase the
donors to the Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry and will
provide support for Sharhzad and others like her struggling
with leukemia.
Information about the session is as
follows:
LOCATION: Persian Palace, 10711 Yonge Street,
Richmond Hill, ON L4C 3E1 (to see the location on a map,
click here)
DATE: Saturday January 19, 2013
TIME: 1:00 pm-7:00 pm
To read more about OneMatch, click here.
To learn more about Shahrzad’s situation, click here.
We hope that you will help in this
important initiative. Your involvement can save a life.
http://iccongress.ca/announcement/icc-encourages-paticipation-onematch-event#sthash.xS7sHjMb.dpuf |
December 21, 2012
ICC STATEMENT REGARDING RASOULI CASE
You may be aware that members of
the Iranian-Canadian community, the Rasouli family, have
been at the centre of a landmark case heard by Canada’s
Supreme Court on December 10, 2012. The Iranian Canadian
Congress (ICC) wants to inform the Iranian-Canadian
community about this important legal case and to wish the
Rasouli family well in this difficult time.
http://iccongress.ca/news?page=9#sthash.4wXETHha.dpuf |
December 3, 2012
ICC Hosts Largest Social Event in its History
The ICC hosted the largest social event in
its history on Sunday, December 2, 2012. The event took
place at the Bayview Golf Club in Toronto and was attended
by over 250 community members, a number far higher than
originally planned.
The purpose of the year-end gathering was
to introduce the ICC to potential new members, to celebrate
the achievements of the ICC in the past year, and inform the
community about the ICC’s goals and objectives. Overwhelming
numbers of attendees indicated that the event was incredibly
well organized and a great introduction to the ICC.
The event also provided an opportunity for
the Iranian-Canadian community to build bridges with other
Canadian communities. In attendance were representatives
from the Baha'i Community of Canada, the Korean Canadian
Cultural Association, and various members of Canada's Jewish
community.
Elected officials from all major political
parties, at the federal and provincial levels, were also
present. CS Leung (Conservative MP, Willowdale), the
Honourable Jim Karygiannis (Liberal MP,
Scarborough-Agincourt), Craig Scott (NDP MP, Toronto-Danforth),
Michael Coteau (Liberal MPP, Don Valley East) all addressed
the crowd and discussed the critical role that the Iranian
Canadian Congress plays in establishing links with Canada’s
political system.
The ICC received messages of greeting from
Prime Minister Harper and the Minister of Citizenship and
Immigration, Jason Kenney. Those messages can be seen
here and
here.
As the leading Iranian-Canadian elected
officials in Canada, Dr. Reza Moridi (Liberal MPP, Richmond
Hill) and Dr. Amir Khadir (Quebec MNA) both delivered
remarks and discussed the importance of the ICC to the
Iranian-Canadian community.
The ICC was also pleased to invite Ms.
Tina Tehranchian as a guest speaker. An accomplished
businesswoman who sits on numerous high-profile non-profit
boards, Ms. Tehranchian spoke about the importance of
community engagement.
Dr. Farrokh Zandi and Mr. Kaveh Shahrooz,
the ICC's President and Vice President respectively, spoke
on behalf of the ICC's board of directors. Dr. Mehrdad
Hariri spoke on behalf of the ICC's Advisory Committee.
The event was a tremendous success. The
ICC attracted a high number of new members and volunteers
and raised substantial funds for its future activities.
http://iccongress.ca/announcement/icc-hosts-largest-social-event-its-history#sthash.M95eOVi5.dpuf |
ICC to Host Year-End Gathering on December 2, 2012
The ICC is excited to announce that it will
host a year-end gathering on Sunday, December 2, 2012. The
event will be an opportunity to see friends and community
members, reflect on the work of the Iranian Canadian
Congress in the past year, and to look ahead to all the
exciting initiatives in 2013. A number of prominent elected
officials from various political parties will be in
attendance. The details are below. We are looking forward to
seeing you there.
DATE: December 2, 2012
TIME: 6:00pm-10:00pm (Cocktails and
Networking 6:00pm-7:00pm Dinner at 7:00)
LOCATION: The Bayview Golf Club 25 Fairway
Heights Drive Thornhill, Ontario
TICKET PRICE: $100
TO PURCHASE: Send an email to info@iccongress.ca
http://iccongress.ca/announcement/icc-host-year-end-gathering-december-2-2012#sthash.Ou0BNkes.dpuf |
November 23, 2012
ICC Statement Referenced by Senator Frum
In a debate of the Canadian Senate on
November 22, 2012, Senator Linda Frum spoke in defense of
Nasrin Sotoudeh, a political prisoner in Iran, and
referenced the recent letter from the Iranian Canadian
Congress to Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.
Senator Frum's statement can be read below and can be found
as part of the Senate debate here.
Hon. Linda Frum: Honourable senators, I would
like to draw your attention to the urgent situation of
Nasrin Sotoudeh, a brave attorney held behind bars in Iran
since September 2010.
Senator Eaton first told us about the case of
Nasrin Sotoudeh last February during the Senate's inquiry
into human rights abuses in Iran. Nasrin Sotoudeh is
currently serving a six-year prison term and has been banned
from her profession for 10 years for her defence of other
political and religious prisoners.
Today Nasrin is on her thirty-eighth day of
an indefinite hunger strike. Her husband's public updates
regarding her well-being have been frightening. Yesterday he
announced that her weight has dropped to 95 pounds and that
she was finally transferred back to the Evin Prison general
women's ward after the Iranian authorities secretly held her
in solitary confinement for 19 days.
One of the main reasons she launched her
hunger strike is reportedly because the Iranian authorities
continuously harass and threaten her family. For example,
the Iranian authorities have banned her 12-year-old daughter
from leaving the country. During a cubicle visit on Tuesday,
November 20, Nasrin Sotoudeh told her husband, "I cannot
just sit here and allow them to do whatever they like to my
family."
Honourable senators, there is no doubt that
Nasrin Sotoudeh and her family are innocent hostages of the
Iranian regime. Members of the Iranian community, including
the Iranian Canadian Congress, have asked that Iranian
authorities be reminded that they are accountable for Nasrin
Sotoudeh's life, her inhumane treatment and her false
imprisonment.
Let us unite our voices collectively to call
for the immediate and unconditional release of Nasrin
Sotoudeh and all of Iran's unlawfully held political
prisoners.
http://iccongress.ca/inthenews/icc-statement-referenced-senator-frum#sthash.nTJUPPOF.dpuf
|
November 18, 2012
ICC Hosts Second Successful Community Group Roundtable
The ICC hosted its second
community group roundtable at North York Civic Centre. With
many community groups represented at the meeting, the ICC
board of directors provided an update on its activities in
the past few months and received feedback regarding how it
can better coordinate activities among the Iranian-Canadian
community.
The minutes of the meeting are available here.
If you wish to complete a survey distributed at this event,
please click here. You can send the competed survey to
info@iccongress.ca.
http://iccongress.ca/announcement/icc-hosts-second-successful-community-group-roundtable#sthash.p3vxnoke.dpuf |
November 14, 2012
Toronto Star References ICC Action on
Sotoudeh
In her column on Nasrin Sotoudeh's ongoing
hunger strike in Iran, The Toronto Star's Olivia Ward made
reference to the ICC's letter to Foreign Affairs Minister
John Baird which urged the Government of Canada to
participate in an international campaign for her release.
The Toronto Star article can be read here.
In its letter, the ICC expressed serious
concerns about the situation faced by Ms. Sotoudeh, a
courageous lawyer in Iran currently imprisoned for defending
political prisoners. The letter made reference to
actions and statements by Canada's likeminded countries,
including the United States and the European Union, and
asked that Canada take a similarly bold approach with
respect to the Sotoudeh case.
http://iccongress.ca/inthenews/toronto-star-references-icc-action-sotoudeh#sthash.jzXotDvO.dpuf
|
ICC URGES CANADIAN ACTION ON SOTOUDEH
November 2, 2012
Concerned about the worrying situation of
Ms. Nasrin Sotoudeh, a courageous lawyer
currently imprisoned in Iran for defending
her political prisoner clients, the ICC
wrote a letter to John Baird, Canada's
Minister of Foreign Affairs, to urge
Canadian involvement in the case. Ms.
Sotoudeh, a recent winner of the European
Parliament's prestigious Sakharov Prize, has
been on hunger strike to protest her
conditions of detention. Her case is
of tremendous concern to Iranian-Canadians.
The text of the ICC's letter to Minister
Baird is below.
http://iccongress.ca/news?page=10#sthash.W2sdNyz9.dpuf |
ICC APPOINTS TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS
October
29, 2012
The ICC is proud to announce the appointment
of two new members to its board of
directors. Consistent with its bylaws,
the ICC appointed Ms. Yasna Beheshti and
Ms. Maryam Nayeb Yazdi to its board
pursuant to resignation of former members.
Ms. Beheshti and Ms. Nayeb Yazdi bring
significant energy, creativity, and
experience to their posts. The bios of
these two extraordinary board members are
below.
http://iccongress.ca/news?page=10#sthash.W2sdNyz9.dpuf |
18 September 2012
ICC MEETS WITH PRIME MINISTER HARPER
September 18, 2012 -- In an
unprecedented step for the Iranian-Canadian
community, the ICC was asked to participate
in a meeting with the Prime Minister and
other top Cabinet Ministers, including Jason
Kenney, Minister of Citizenship and
Immigration, and John Baird, Minister of
Foreign Affairs.
http://iccongress.ca/news?page=10#sthash.W2sdNyz9.dpuf
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-meets-with-prominent-iranian-canadians-1.1232738
 |
14 September 14, 2012
ICC REPRESENTATIVES MEET WITH MINISTER
KENNEY
Members
of the ICC held a productive meeting with
the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of
Citizenship and Immigration to discuss
important issues facing the Iranian-Canadian
community.
http://iccongress.ca/news?page=10#sthash.W2sdNyz9.dpuf |
September 9, 2012
CTV Interviews ICC on Embassy Closure
Kaveh Shahrooz, Vice President of the ICC,
spoke today to CTV Newsnet regarding Canada's decision to
end diplomatic relations with Iran and its effect on the
Iranian-Canadian community.
You can watch video of the interview on the CTV Newsnet
site, here.
http://iccongress.ca/inthenews/ctv-interviews-icc-embassy-closure#sthash.2mquXSpW.dpuf
|
September 7, 2012
ICC VP Discusses Embassy Closure with CBC
The Vice President of the ICC, Kaveh Shahrooz,
was interviewed by CBC Newsworld concerning the Government
of Canada's recent decision to cut off diplomatic relations
with Iran.
Full
video of the interview is below.
http://iccongress.ca/inthenews/icc-vp-discusses-embassy-closure-cbc#sthash.tHHjxFLP.dpuf
|
September 6, 2012
Ottawa Citizen Reports on ICC's Letter to Senator Meredith
The Ottawa Citizen, one of Canada's leading newspapers, has
reported on the ICC's recent letter of protest to Senator
Don Meredith concerning his decision to attend an event
organized by the Iranian embassy in Ottawa. The full
text of the article is below.
Senator chided over Iranian embassy event
Organization expresses concern at Tory's
opening remarks during cultural exhibition
By Michelle Zilio And Karen Chen, Ottawa
Citizen September 6, 2012
The Iranian Canadian Congress has joined the
wave of criticism facing Conservative Senator Don Meredith
for at-tending an event organized by the Iranian Cultural
Centre.
The senator faced backlash from the
Iranian-Canadian community after attending a Persian
cultural exhibition at Ottawa City Hall on Saturday.The
event was organized by the Iranian embassy and the Iranian
Cultural Association at Carleton University.
Meredith, a Pentecostal pastor who sits on
the Senate's Standing Committee on Human Rights, was
considered the guest of honour at the event. He delivered
the opening remarks.
Iranian Canadian Congress president Farrokh
Zandi denounced Meredith's attendance in a letter to the
senator Wednesday.The organization expressed "deep concern"
for Meredith's presence at the event, particularly the
speech he delivered.Meredith's remarks Saturday included a
reference to Iranian chargé d'affaires Kambiz Sheikh-Hassani
as his "great friend." Sheikh-Has-sani is an outspoken
supporter of the Iranian Embassy, which recently faced
accusations that its Iranian Cultural Centre is formed by
Iranian agents.
While the comments made were concerning for
the congress, what was even more worrisome was an omission.
Meredith did not mention the "dire" situation two Canadian
citizens and a permanent Canadian resident face in Iranian
prisons without due process. Two of these individuals face
the death penalty, according to the congress.
"We are deeply worried that by attending an
event of this nature, Senator Meredith ... has ignored the
plight of Iranian people, in particular Iranian-Canadians
languishing in Iranian prisons without trial," said Kaveh
Shahrooz, vice-president of the ICC, in a press release
Wednesday.
The congress joins the multitude of Iranian
Canadians disturbed by Meredith's attendance at the
event.Shabnam Assadollahi, an Ottawa activist for the
Iranian community, said she is putting pressure on the
Senate human rights committee to reconsider Meredith's
membership.
The federal Conservative government was also at odds with
Meredith's choice to at-tend the event. "Our government's
position with respect to the Iranian regime is well known.
Senator Meredith was not representing the government at this
event," Carl Vallée, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's press
secretary, told the Citizen in an email Wednesday.Foreign
Affairs Minister John Baird has been critical of the Islamic
Republic and has advised officials not to at-tend such
cultural events.
Meredith did not respond to requests for
comment Wednesday. However, his Facebook page did
acknowledge the concerns raised.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Senator+chided+over+Iranian+embassy+event/7197145/story.html
http://iccongress.ca/inthenews/ottawa-citizen-reports-iccs-letter-senator-meredith#sthash.wFZbR0vW.dpuf
|
4 September 2012
ICC STATEMENT REGARDING SENATOR MEREDITH
On September 4, 2012,
the ICC learned of Senator Don Meredith's
decision to attend a function hosted by the
Iranian embassy in Ottawa. At the
event, the Senator made no mention of Iran's
appalling human rights record, and, in fact,
referred favourably to the Iranian
government representatives in attendance.
In reaction to Senator Meredith's decision,
the ICC sent the Senator a letter indicating
our community's disappointment with his
decision. The text of the letter
follows.
http://iccongress.ca/news?page=10#sthash.W2sdNyz9.dpuf |
From: Mahsa Pezeshki <mahsa.pezeshki@gmail.com>
Sent: August 22, 2012 8:49 PM
To: Medi Shams
Subject: Re: A request
Hi Medi:
My apologies for the late reply. I'm out of the
country and will return to Toronto in September.
I have told my contacts about the demonstration.
I wish you a successful event.
Regards,
Mahsa
Dear Mahsa,
Dear Kaveh,
I am informed that ICC has decided not
to be involved in No TD campaign. If you
don't mind and if they don't mind either
I would like to have ICC board
members e-mails and invite them to that
event as an individual and not as an ICC
board members. We are sending
invitations to almost everyone in
Iranian community and hope to have lots
of known people there.
I know that Mahsa won't be in Toronto
but I hope Kaveh will be there.
By the way if you have e-mails of any
interesting people to be invited please
let me know.
Thanks - Medi
|
From: Kaveh Shahrooz <kshahrooz@gmail.com>
Sent: August 21, 2012 1:15 PM
To: Medi Shams
Cc: Mahsa Pezeshki
Subject: Re: A request
Hi Medi,
Thanks for your note. I'm also out of the country
for the next couple of weeks and regrettably won't be in
Toronto to attend.
I will ask the other members if they'll let me share
their personal email address with you. An even
easier option would be to send me the email you'd like
them to receive and I'd be happy to share it with them.
Best,
Kaveh
_______________________________
Kaveh Shahrooz
kshahrooz@post.harvard.edu
416.432.4191
On Tue, Aug 21, 2012 at 1:05 PM, Medi Shams <medishams@hotmail.com> wrote:
Dear Mahsa,
Dear Kaveh,
I am informed that ICC has decided not
to be involved in No TD campaign. If you
don't mind and if they don't mind either
I would like to have ICC board
members e-mails and invite them to that
event as an individual and not as an ICC
board members. We are sending
invitations to almost everyone in
Iranian community and hope to have lots
of known people there.
I know that Mahsa won't be in Toronto
but I hope Kaveh will be there.
By the way if you have e-mails of any
interesting people to be invited please
let me know.
Thanks - Medi
|
August 22, 2012
From: Medi Shams <medishams@hotmail.com>
Sent: August 21, 2012 5:46 PM
To: kshahrooz@gmail.com
Subject: Invitation to No TD Campaign
Dear Kaveh,
I would appreciate if you could forward this e-mail
to them.
Thanks - Medi
سرور
عزیز جناب آقای ...............................
یکبار دیگر شاهد یکی از زمانهای حساس جامعه خود هستیم.
از یکطرف زلزله بیداد میکند و از طرف دیگر بانک TD با
حرکت ناعادلانه خود جامعه ای را بیدار میکند.
در مورد اول بطور طبیعی و بدون هیچ
اختلاف نظر هر کسی به فراخور حال خود با قطره ای اشگ
یا آهی از دل و یا با کمک نقدی همدردی میکند. ولی
متاسفانه در مورد دوم اکثریت جامعه یا بی تفاوت از
کنارش میگذرند و یا بی اطلاع قضاوت میکنند. و آنهائی
که مورد این بی عدالتی قرار گرفته اند ترجیح میدهند که
ساکت بوده تا مبادا برچسب دیگری همچو مزدور و وابسته
به رژیم بودن به آنها زده شود. تعداد اندکی هم دیگر
برایشان شکی نیست که حرکت بانک تبعیض آمیز و مخالف
حقوق بشر بوده است و به خوبی میدانند که اکثر افرادی
که مورد ظلم قرار گرفته و حسابهایشان بسته شده است بی
گناه می باشند از همین رو صدای خود را بلند کرده اند و
به همه میگویند که تمام این قضایا به کنار این بهترین
فرصت برای جامعه ما میباشد که بدون در نظر گرفتن
اختلافات شخصی و سلیقه ای بتوانیم جامعه نوپای خود را
متحد تر و مستحکم تر کنیم. علاوه بر این نباید این
فرصت را از دست داده تا به کل جامعه کانادائی بگوییم
که ما شهروندان درجه دو نبوده و حساب هر کدام از ما با
رژیم ایران جدا میباشد. و هر گونه حرکتی با ما میبایست
طبق قوانین کانادا و در محاکم کانادائی به ثبوت رسیده
و اجرا گردد نه اینکه تابع تعریف و تفسیر یک ارگان
خصوصی باشد. حال که جنگ رسما اعلام نشده چنین با ما
میکنند وای به آنروزی که آنچه نباید شود.
جناب ………….. عزیز،
چشم امید به شما دوخته ایم که با تشریف فرمائی خود به
تجمع عمومی که برای روز شنبه ساعت 2 الی 4
بعد از ظهر در مقابل ساختمان بانک TD بر
سر تقاطع Yonge
/Finch تدارک
دیده شده است شور و حالی به آن دهید.
با کمال تشکر – مانیا کوپال از طرف NO
TD
برای کسب اطلاعات بیشتر لطفا به سایت www.notd.ca مراجعه
کنید.
|
From: Iranian Canadian Congress <pr@iccongress.ca>
Sent: August 6, 2012 2:16 PM
To: Iranian Canadian Congress
Subject: ICC Update Regarding TD Bank Initiative
Visit the ICC online: www.iccongress.ca
www.iccongress.ca
Join us on Friday, September 29,
2017 to support the efforts and
initiatives of the Iranian Canadian
Congress. Your participation and
financial support will ...
Join the ICC on Facebook: www.facebook.com/iccongress
Dear Members of the Iranian-Canadian Community,
Over the past few weeks, the Board of Directors of
the Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) has actively
pursued the issue of TD Bank’s decision to close the
accounts of our community members. Below you
will find a brief summary update of our efforts.
Please note that we will hold a public forum on
Friday, August 10, 2012 to provide community members
with and in-depth update and to consult further on
strategy. Information about this upcoming
public forum is below.
Sincerely,
ICC Board of Directors
UPDATE REGARDING ICC ACTIVITIES
Upon learning of the TD Bank account closures, the
ICC held a fact-finding event on July 7, 2012.
At this event, we heard from community members who
have been affected by TD’s decision to close bank
accounts without adequate explanation.
Based on information received, the ICC requested an
urgent meeting with TD Bank to discuss community
concerns. We also began a very successful
media campaign to bring attention to the issue in
the larger Canadian community. In this, we
were successful in making the issue into a national
story.
You can see a sampling of the media coverage the ICC
was able to generate in the local, national, and
international media, here: http://tinyurl.com/iccinthenews
The media pressure created by the ICC forced
executives at the highest levels of TD Bank to meet
with the ICC. On July 19, 2012, members of the
ICC Board of Directors met with Tim Hockey,
President and CEO of TD Canada Trust. In that
meeting, we conveyed the community’s concern to Mr.
Hockey and urged him to revise the bank’s procedures
which have had a negative impact on our community
members. During the meeting, we stressed that
bank accounts belonging to individuals with no ties
to the Iranian Government should not be closed.
TD has acknowledged that its process for account
closures has been flawed and has promised to contact
individuals whom TD had not previously been able to
contact and whose accounts had subsequently been
closed.
The ICC considers the meeting to be a positive first
step and will continue to work with TD Bank to
ensure that the rights of Iranian-Canadians are
protected.
UPCOMING PUBLIC FORUM
The ICC will host an event on Friday, August 10, to
report back to the community on its recent meeting
with the CEO of TD Canada Trust. We will also
seek to gather additional facts and consult with
community members on future strategy.
Date:
Friday, August 10, 2012
Time:
7:00 p.m. - 8:30p.m.
Where:
North York Civic Centre , 5100 Yonge Street, Council
Chambers
|
20 July 2012
ICC Holds Successful Panel Discussion on Bill C-31
On July 20, 2012,
the ICC successfully organized an informative expert panel
to discuss the impact of the recently-enacted Protecting
Canada's Immigration Act. The new law gives significant new
powers to the Immigration Minister to deny refugee claims.
The government claims that the law will make Canada’s
immigration system more efficient and reduce false refugee
claims. Opponents believe that it significantly harms
vulnerable refugees and undermines Canadian values. Speakers
of the event were Raha Bahreini from Amnesty Internationa,
Mr. Ezat Mossallanejad from the Canadian Centre for Victims
of Torture, Mr. Giovanni Rico from the FCJ Refugee Centre
and Mr. Hassan Zarezadeh Ardeshi from the International
Centre for Human Rights in Iran. The event was moderated by
Ms. Mahsa Pezeshki from the ICC.
http://iccongress.ca/announcement/icc-holds-successful-panel-discussion-bill-c-31#sthash.DgNmLILb.dpuf |
July 20, 2012
Ottawa Citizen Reports on Recent ICC Meeting With TD Bank
The Ottawa Citizen, one of Canada's leading
dailies, reported on the ICC's productive recent meeting
with TD Canada Trust President and CEO. The article
can be read on the Ottawa Citizen website. The full text is
below.
Iranian Canadian Congress meets with TD bank
officials over closed accounts
By MICHELLE ZILIO, The Ottawa Citizen July
20, 2012 OTTAWA —
Leaders of the Iranian-Canadian community
pleaded their case Thursday with TD bank officials who’ve
closed the bank accounts of Iranian expatriates in a bid to
comply with sanctions against their home country.
While members of the Iranian Canadian
Congress didn’t emerge from the hour-long meeting at the TD
Canada Trust Tower with any promises, they said they left
with a sense that their concerns were finally being heard.
“In response to ICC concerns, TD indicated
that it now better understands the difficulties caused for
the Iranian-Canadian community and that it will address the
issue more seriously in the future,” said the ICC in a press
release Thursday evening.
During the meeting, TD said it stressed that
the recent decisions to close the accounts “were not based
on ethnicity, a person’s name or a particular community.”
The bank also reiterated its plan to “reach out” to some
Iranian-Canadians whose accounts were closed in compliance
with the sanctions.
The meeting was held exactly two weeks after
the Citizen reported that TD Bank Group had begun sending
letters to clients whose accounts it had closed. The letters
told clients that under recent changes to the Special
Economic Measures (Iran) Regulation, Canadian financial
institutions are forbidden from providing financial services
to anyone in Iran or for the benefit of Iran, and anyone who
provided and retained an active residential or employment
address in Iran.
According to the Canadian Bankers
Association, it is up to each bank individually to ensure
compliance with economic sanctions.
After receiving an email from the ICC last
week, TD agreed to meet with the organization in two weeks.
Although reports said the meeting would be held July 22, it
was held early Thursday. TD began sending the letters to
Iranian-Canadians across the country as early as the
beginning of May, according to some of those who received
them.
The bank said it tried to contact customers
affected by the regulations, and in cases where they did not
hear back, it was forced to close their accounts.
The bank announced Tuesday its plan to
contact clients affected by the account closures who did not
answer calls or letters to confirm or update their
information. The action will be taken in the next 30 days
and may lead to the restoration of some banking
relationships.
While TD’s decision to contact former
accounts holders is a “positive” step forward for the ICC,
the organization stressed the need for increased outreach to
better promote the rights of Iranian-Canadian community
members. “We recognize that TD operates in a complex
regulatory environment, but believe it is imperative that
customers who have not violated Canadian laws are not
harmed,” said Kaveh Shahrooz, vice-president of the ICC, in
a press release.
TD and the ICC said they are committed to
working closely as they move forward. The ICC said it plans
to assist the bank with its community outreach in the next
30 days and hold a public forum for Iranian-Canadians
affected by the closures to make TD’s intentions known.
So far, it appears no other Canadian bank has taken the same
action as TD. The bank could not confirm how many accounts
had been closed as a result of the sanctions, but closures
have been reported in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and British
Columbia.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Iranian+Canadian+Congress+meets+with+bank+officials+over+closed+account
http://iccongress.ca/inthenews/ottawa-citizen-reports-recent-icc-meeting-td-bank#sthash.g7B2g6kU.dpuf
|
11 July 2012
ICC Featured in BBC Report on TD Bank
Decision to Close Bank Accounts
The ICC was quoted in a recent article by the
BBC concerning TD Bank's decision to close the bank accounts
of Iranian-Canadians.
In the article, ICC vice president Kaveh
Shahrooz emphasized that pensioners, students, and others
with no affiliation with the Iranian regime should not be
harmed by Canada's sanctions.
The
article is available here . The text is below.
TD Bank: Iranian-Canadians caught
up in sanctions row
By Bahman Kalbasi BBC Persian
A Canadian bank cancelled accounts of
customers of Iranian origin with no chance to deny they
violated financial sanctions, customers have reported.
They allege that TD Bank gave little or no
notice before telling customers to take their funds
elsewhere.
Customers and supporters said they were
targeted because of Iranian names.
TD Bank told the BBC it did not target people
based on ethnicity or nationality, but it was required to
comply with Canadian law on sanctions.
"This episode shocked us," said Pooya Sadeghi,
a real estate agent whose father-in-law's account was
closed.
He has created a Facebook page entitled
"Condemn TD Bank in their Treatment of clients with Iranian
Background" to draw attention to the issue.
"Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine
that a major bank in Canada would treat us like we are
second-class citizens and undeserving of answers."
'Second-class Canadian'
Since 2010, the Canadian government has
imposed a series of sanctions against Iran intended to
pressure the Islamic republic to suspend nuclear enrichment
activities and co-operate with the International Atomic
Energy Agency.
As part of the sanctions, Canadian banks are
forbidden to provide financial services "to, or for the
benefit of Iran, or any person in Iran", TD wrote in a
letter to an Iranian-Canadian customer.
More than a dozen Iranian-Canadian TD
customers told the BBC their checking and savings accounts
were closed, credit cards and lines were revoked, and
mortgages not renewed.
"I felt like a second-class Canadian," said
an Iranian woman in British Columbia who only found out her
account had been closed when she entered a branch to
withdraw cash.
We value all our customers regardless of
their ethnicity or heritage. To suggest otherwise would
simply be false”
Mohammed Nakhooda TD Bank spokesman
"They were simply told to take their money
elsewhere," said Kaveh Shahrooz, a lawyer and vice-president
of advocacy group Iranian-Canadian Congress, which held an
emergency meeting in Toronto last week to gather anecdotes
and formulate a collective response.
"Many are pensioners or students who got
small sums of money from Iran and many hadn't received any
money from Iran at all," he said.
"It seems like the bank is being
over-zealous. They see an Iranian name and they close their
bank account."
A spokesman for TD Bank rejected suggestions
it had specifically gone after Iranians, and said Canadian
law required the bank to comply with banking laws and
regulations and Canada's economic sanctions against Iran.
"We value all our customers regardless of
their ethnicity or heritage - to suggest otherwise would
simply be false," said spokesman Mohammed Nakhooda.
He said the bank had tried to contacted the
customers whose accounts it closed.
"We understand that this is a sensitive issue
and that is why we took additional measures to reach out to
customers who would be impacted by the regulation," he said.
"In cases where we did not hear back from
customers to confirm their information, we were required to
apply the regulation."
Sanctions bite
But TD customers told the BBC they were not
asked to account for any of their transactions before the
closure of their accounts.
"I was never contacted by TD to talk about
any of my bank account activity," said Farshid Ganj, who
said he had been a TD customer for seven years.
"I went the extra mile to get an answer and
after dozens of phone calls and branch visits I got the same
response: 'We can't give you the details of why your account
was closed'."
A spokesman for Foreign Affairs and
International Trade Canada said banks are advised to apply
the Iranian sanctions to individual accounts on a
case-by-case basis.
The ministry also offers waivers for some
non-commercial remittances of CAN$40,000 ($39,200; £25,200)
or less from Iran to Canada.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18803129
http://iccongress.ca/inthenews/icc-featured-bbc-report-td-bank-decision-close-bank-accounts#sthash.IMz4JjKG.dpuf
|
11 July 2012
ICC Interviewed by Voice of America Regarding TD Bank
Account Closures
Voice of America featured a Persian Language
interview with Kaveh Shahrooz, Vice President of the ICC,
concerning TD Bank's recent decision to close bank accounts
of Iranian Canadians.
The article, by Maryam Aghvami, includes
reference to ICC's recent fact-finding event, our opposition
to TD's decision to close the accounts of Iranian Canadians
who have no affiliation with the Iranian Government, and the
strategies ICC is pursuing.
The article can be read here .
The full Persian text of the article is below.
تصمیم بانک کانادایی و بستن حساب اتباع ایرانی
کاوه شهروز، معاون کنگره ایرانیان کانادا
۱۳۹۱/۴/۲۱
بانک کانادایی
«TD Canada Trust»
اخیراً در اقدامی بی سابقه برای تعدادی از
ایرانی تباران مقیم این کشور نامه ای ارسال و آن ها را از بستن
حساب های بانکی شان مطلع کرده است. در نامه این بانک بزرگ
کانادایی به «قانون اقدامات اقتصادی ویژه علیه ایران» اشاره
شده است که براساس آن موسسات مالی کشور از ارائه خدمات مالی به
افراد مقیم ایران و یا افرادی که به نفع ایران کار می کنند،
منع شده اند.
بنا به گزارش رسانه های کانادا و نهادهای
ایرانی کانادایی، مقامات این بانک از توضیح در مورد این تصمیم
و تشریح مفاد قانون تحریم هایی که علیه جمهوری اسلامی ایران و
مقامات دولتی اعمال شده اند و احتمال و یا اشاره به موارد نقض
این قانون از جانب ایرانی تباران مقیم این کشور خودداری کرده
اند.
اتاوا سیتی زن گزارش داده است حساب های بانکی
تعدادی از ایرانیان مقیم تورنتو و بریتیش کلمبیا از اوایل ماه
مه مسدود و هم اکنون اخباری در موارد مشابه برای
ایرانیان مقیم اتاوا، پایتخت کانادا هم منتشر شده است.
کاوه شهروز، وکیل ایرانی تبار مقیم تورنتو و
معاون «کنگره ایرانیان کانادا» در مورد اقدام این بانک در
مسدود کردن حساب های متعلق به تعدادی از ایرانیان مقیم کانادا
با وب سایت صدای آمریکا به گفتگو نشست:
علت این که تی دی بانک و احتمالاً برخی دیگر از
موسسات مالی کانادا تصمیم گرفتند حساب های بانکی تعدادی از
ایرانیان مقیم کانادا را ببندند و یا مبادلات مالی آن ها را
مسدود کنند چه بود؟
کاوه شهروز: هنوز برای ما روشن نیست که چرا تی
دی بانک حساب های اعضای جامعه ما را مسدود کرده است. در بسیاری
از موارد این افراد حتی هیچ نامه ای دریافت نکردند و از پیش در
مورد این تصمیم به آن ها اطلاع داده نشده بود. در برخی موارد
به تعدادی از کانادایی های ایرانی تبار نامه ای ارسال و به آن
ها گفته شده بود که حساب بانکی شان بسته شده است. در برخی از
نامه ها به مسئله قانون تحریم ها اشاره شده، اما توضیح و یا
علت احتمالی نقض قانون تحریم از سوی این افراد مطرح نشده است.
آیا می دانید که کدام مشتریان بانک و یا چه
حساب هایی حساسیت بانک را برانگیخته و مقامات را بر آن داشته
تا حساب ها را بدون هیچ توضیحی مسدود کنند؟ آیا این افراد به
طور تصادفی انتخاب شدند و یا این گروه حساب های داشتند که منبع
پول و دارایی آن ها از ایران تامین می شدند؟
کاوه شهروز: پاسخ به این سوال دشوار است چون
مقامات تی دی بانک از تشریح علت این امر خودداری کرده اند. در
برخی از موارد حساب تعدادی از ایرانی تبارانی را بسته است که
پول از ایران به حساب هایشان واریز کرده بودند و این مبالغ
برای اهدافی به جز فعالیت های بازرگانی بوده است. (مبلغ مجاز
برای واریز به حساب های شخصی کمتر از ٤٠ هزار دلار است.) در
موارد دیگر هیچ پولی از ایران به کانادا واریز نشده بود و چنین
روندی نگران کننده است.
وضعیت کنونی مبالغ موجود در حساب های مسدود شده
چیست؟ آیا دارایی های نقدی این افراد مسدود شده و یا آن ها
اجازه دسترسی به حساب ها و برداشت پول هایشان را داشته اند؟
کاوه شهروز: تا جایی که ما مطلع هستیم، این
حساب ها مسدود و یا غیرقابل دسترسی نشده اند. پول مشتریان به
آن ها تحویل داده شده و به آنها توصیه شده تا در یک بانک دیگر
حساب باز کنند. ما نگران این هستیم که بانک های دیگر هم الگوی
بانک تی دی را تکرار کنند. من نمی دانم مردم چه خواهند کرد اگر
دیگر بانکهای کانادایی هم از این روند پیروی کنند.
آیا دولت کانادا از تصمیم بانک مطلع شده است؟
آیا مقامات اتاوا تا به حال واکنشی در این زمینه داشته اند؟
کاوه شهروز: دولت کانادا از این مسئله مطلع
شده، اما به نظر ما اقدام جدی و کافی در این زمینه اتخاذ نکرده
است. تا به حال تنها واکنش آن ها این بوده است که ما را به
قانون تحریم ها ارجاع بدهند. اما نه مقامات دولتی و نه مسئولان
بانک برای ما تشریح نکرده اند افرادی که حساب هایشان مسدود و
یا بسته شده است، چگونه و کدام ماده قانون تحریم ها را نقض
کرده اند. ما به شدت نگران هستیم که این مشکل به بانک های دیگر
هم کشیده شود.
موضع کنگره ایرانیان کانادا در این مورد چه
بوده و تا به حال چه اقدامی انجام شده است؟
کاوه شهروز: موضع ما روشن و ساده است. اگر دولت
کانادا و یا شرکت های بزرگ کانادایی قصد دارند دولت ایران را
به دلیل برنامه اتمی و یا موارد نقض حقوق بشر مجازات کنند، ما
از این اقدامات استقبال می کنیم. اما ما نگران این هستیم که
تصمیم اخیر بانک در بستن حساب های بانکی ایرانیان مقیم کانادا،
از مجازات دولت ایران فراتر برود. به نظر می رسد که رفتار تی
دی بانک به مردم عادی، دانشجویان، اقشار آسیب پذیر و مستمری
بگیرانی که هیچ ارتباطی با دولت ندارند، لطمه می زند.
تصمیم اخیر بانک کانادا چه تاثیری بر ایرانیان
مهاجر مقیم این کشور خواهد داشت؟
کاوه شهروز: این تصمیم تاثیر مستقیم بر زندگی و
شرایط مالی ایرانی تباران مقیم کانادا داشته است. مردم به
دردسر افتاده اند. اما من فکر می کنم که جامعه ایرانیان کانادا
بیشتر نگران آینده است. بسیاری از اعضای جامعه ایرانی مقیم
کانادا احساس می کنند که احتمال دارد هر لحظه از خدمات بانکی
موسسات مالی کانادا محروم شوند و بسیاری از آن ها تصور می کنند
که نه تنها مورد بی احترامی قرار گرفته اند، بلکه با آن ها
همچون شهروندان درجه دو رفتار شده است. نگرانی ما این است که
تحریم ها باید ناقضان حقوق بشر را هدف قرار دهند و نه مردم
عادی.
سخنگوی تی دی بانک تاکید کرده است که این تصمیم
به طور خاص ایرانی تباران مقیم کانادا را هدف قرار نداده است،
آیا از تجربه مشابهی در دیگر جوامع قومی مقیم کانادا اطلاع
دارید؟
کاوه شهروز: من اطلاعی ندارم که اعضای جوامع
قومی دیگر هم تجربه مشابهی داشته اند و یا خیر. به نظر من حتی
اگر آن ها هم تجربه مشابهی داشته باشند، بدرفتاری این بانک با
مردم مسئله ناخوشایندی است و با هیچ کس نباید به این شیوه
برخورد کنند.
با وجودی که هنوز تعداد ایرانیانی که هدف تصمیم
اخیر تی دی بانک قرار گرفته اند مشخص نیست، اما روزنامه اتاوا
سیتی زن از افزایش تعداد حساب های مسدود شده و عدم پاسخگویی
مقامات مسئول این بانک خبر داده است.
براساس مقررات انجمن بانکداران کانادا، هر بانک
این کشور باید از اجرای تحریم های دولت فدرال علیه ایران پیروی
کند و بانک ها، براساس توافق نامه ای که به هنگام افتتاح حساب
با مشتریان خود امضا می کنند، از حق مسدود کردن و یا بستن حساب
های بانکی آن ها برخوردار خواهند بود.
http://ir.voanews.com/content/article/1383761.html
http://iccongress.ca/inthenews/icc-interviewed-voice-america-regarding-td-bank-account-closures#sthash.CjOMq2hS.dpuf
|
CBC's "Metro Morning" Interviews ICC VP
Regarding TD Bank Decision
CBC Radio's "Metro Morning", hosted by Matt
Galloway, interviewed ICC vice President, Kaveh Shahrooz, on
TD Bank's recent decision to close the accounts of
Iranian-Canadians.
During the interview, the ICC representative
emphasized that the members of the community are upset by
TD's decision to unilaterally end its services to certain
Iranian-Canadians with no affiliation with the Iranian
government.
CBC's interview with Kaveh Shahrooz can be
heard here .
http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audioplayer.html?clipid=2255118727
http://iccongress.ca/inthenews/cbcs-metro-morning-interviews-icc-vp-regarding-td-bank-decision#sthash.ioe0QN0J.dpuf
|
|
11 July 2012
Interview
on CBC News Network Regarding TD Bank Account Closures
July 11, 2012
ICC's vice president, Kaveh Shahrooz, was interviewed on CBC
News Network today regarding the group's views on the
closure of Iranian-Canadian bank accounts by TD Bank.
In the interview, Shahrooz emphasized that
the ICC is primarily reaching out to TD in the hopes that
the bank recognizes that its decision has had a harmful
effect on the community.
You can watch the interview below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N93tvw5jeiI.
http://iccongress.ca/inthenews/interview-cbc-news-network-regarding-td-bank-account-closures#sthash.1Rp8oWue.dpuf
|
7 July 2012
ICC Hosts Fact-Finding Event in Connection With TD Bank
Account Closures
On Saturday July 7, 2012,
members of the the Iranian Canadian Congress held a
fact-finding event in connection with the TD Bank's recent
decision to close the bank accounts of large numbers of
Iranian-Canadians without adequate notice or process. The
purpose of the event was to gather relevant information and
documents from all relevant information from stakeholders.
On the basis of the information provided, the ICC will form
a taskforce dedicated to this issue and will pursue the
matter with TD, Canadian policymakers, and the media. The
ICC will also consider the community's legal options.
http://iccongress.ca/announcement/icc-hosts-fact-finding-event-connection-td-bank-account-closures#sthash.IuwNMRTA.dpuf |
03 June 2012
ICC HOSTS SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY GROUP ROUNDTABLE
On June 3rd, 2012, the Iranian
Canadian Congress hosted its first ever Community Group
Roundtable. The event was attended by representatives from a
number of leading community organizations. Feedback received
from participants was overwhelmingly positive. During the
meeting, the group exchanged ideas on how best to advance
the interests of the Iranian-Canadian community,
particularly with respect to the recent closing of the Visa
Office in Tehran.
http://iccongress.ca/events?page=5#sthash.hE3kHutK.dpuf |
ICC Quoted by the Ottawa Citizen Concerning
Closure of Iranian-Canadian TD Bank Accounts
The Ottawa Citizen, one of Canada's leading
dailies, quoted a representative of the ICC in its reporting
on TD Bank's recent closing of the accounts of
Iranian-Canadians. The ICC is scheduled to host a
fact-finding event on this pressing issue on July 7th.
In the article, the ICC represenative stressed that Canada's
banking system should not be used by the Iranian government
to pursue its goals. However, the decision to close bank
accounts should not harm innocent people with no ties to the
Iranian government. The article is available on the Ottawa
Citizen site here . (It can also below seen, below.) TD Bank
closing some customer accounts to comply with sanctions
against Iran By MICHELLE ZILIO, The Ottawa CitizenJuly 5,
2012 11:01 PM TD Bank Group has confirmed it has been
sending letters to clients telling them under recent changes
to the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulation, Canadian
financial institutions are forbidden from providing
financial services to anyone in Iran or for the benefit of
Iran. OTTAWA — A major Canadian bank has begun to close the
accounts of some of its customers to comply with new federal
regulations that govern economic sanctions against Iran. TD
Bank Group has confirmed it has been sending letters to
clients telling them under recent changes to the Special
Economic Measures (Iran) Regulation, Canadian financial
institutions are forbidden from providing financial services
to anyone in Iran or for the benefit of Iran. That appears
to include any use of an account to send or receive money
via wire transfer to or from friends and family in Iran. So
far, it seems no other Canadian bank has taken similar
action, but TD Bank Group spokesperson Mohammed Nakhooda
said the bank is simply following regulations set out by the
Canadian government. CIBC spokesman Kevin Dove said Thursday
night the bank has closed the accounts of a few customers,
but only those whose names were reviewed with them by the
Canadian Security and Intelligence Service. But CIBC does
not appear to have gone to the same lengths as TD. Officials
from other banks were not available for comment Thursday. TD
said it tried to contact customers who were affected by the
regulations, and in cases where they did not hear back, the
bank was forced to close their accounts, Nakhooda said. “In
no way is TD targeting the Iranian Canadian community,”
Nakhooda said Thursday. “We are simply following regulations
set out by the sanctions.” According to the Iranian Canadian
Congress, many Iranian-Canadians across Canada have received
these letters. One of them is an Iranian-Canadian woman from
lower British Columbia who received a letter June 28. The
Citizen is not publishing her name because of worries about
the safety of her family in Iran. After attempting to use
her TD debit and credit card at a dollar store on June 27,
the woman said she learned that all of her accounts had been
frozen. When she went to her local TD branch to find out
what was happening, she said she faced a day-long runaround
that resulted in no clear answers. The next morning, the
woman continued to call TD’s head office in Toronto. That
afternoon, she did receive a call telling her the reason for
the account closure. “They said that, ‘Yes, because of the
new economic sanctions against Iran, the accounts had been
closed.’” The woman, who is a Canadian citizen, was confused
why she had been “targeted.” Although she has family in
Iran, she claims they have no political affiliations with
the Iranian regime and she never sends money to the country.
She did, however, concede that her family in Iran recently
wired a large sum of money to a Canadian family member. On
June 29, she was told her account would be reopened after
the Canada Day long weekend. But that never happened, and as
of Thursday evening, the woman’s two credit cards, line of
credit, mortgage and debit account with TD were all still
closed. She can still access her money through bank drafts,
but says she is nervous handling large amounts of money in
this way. The woman said her family will not attempt to
reopen the accounts with TD, and are looking to move to
another bank. “I feel betrayed and frustrated,” the woman
said. “After 10 years of living in Canada, this is an
absolute disgrace to me.” Kaveh Shahrooz, vice-president of
the Iranian Canadian Council. said the ICC became aware of
the letters a couple of months ago, although reports of more
letters have increased in the past few weeks. The ICC could
not specify how many Canadians it has heard from, but said
it is now starting to receive two to three reports from
Canadian-Iranians a day. “These are people’s livelihoods,”
said Shahrooz. “They’re worried that if they can’t do
banking with TD, they can’t do banking with any other bank
out there.” The Department of Foreign Affairs was not able
to confirm Thursday what specific changes to the Canadian
sanctions against Iran led to the closures of the banks
accounts. However, Shahrooz said he believes the closures
may have something to do with the January 2012 expansion of
Canada’s sanctions against Iran. The changes, announced by
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird on Jan. 31, added five
entities and three individuals to the list of designated
people whose assets were frozen. “Our organization is very
sensitive to the idea of the importance of making sure that
the Iranian government doesn’t use the banking system here
in Canada to further its goals,” said Shahrooz. “But at the
same time we are very concerned about the overzealous
application of this sanctions regime may harm innocent
people.” The ICC will hold a meeting in Toronto Saturday for
members of the Iranian-Canadian community whose accounts
have been closed by TD. The purpose of the meeting is to
gather relevant information from those affected so the group
can take the appropriate steps of action. Those affected
have taken to social media websites to express their
concerns. A Facebook page titled “Condemn TD Bank in their
Treatment of clients with Iranian Background” has more than
70 likes and a number of posts from users saying they known
of Iranian-Canadians whose TD bank accounts have been
closed. Twitter users have also been reporting account
closures, with one user even posting a portion of the letter
from TD online. Letter recipients are given a date by which
their accounts and services with TD will be closed. They are
then instructed to contact Foreign Affairs to apply for a
permit to carry out future transactions prohibited by the
regulations. Foreign Affairs did not having anything to say
about the changes to the sanctions or TD’s letters as of
Thursday evening. According to the ICC, it appears that only
TD is sending out the letters at this time. TD could not
confirm whether any other banks were sending similar letters
to clients. © Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen
http://iccongress.ca/inthenews/icc-quoted-ottawa-citizen-concerning-closure-iranian-canadian-td-bank-accounts#sthash.5vnYEzzn.dpuf
|
June 16, 2012
https://web.archive.org/web/20120616153026/http://iccongress.ca
|
June 14, 2012
بیانیه کنگره ایرانیان کانادا
در ارتباط با استعفای سه عضو هیأت مدیره
به دنبال استعفای سه تن از اعضای
هیأت مدیره کنگره ایرانیان کانادا در هفته گذشته، هیأت مدیره
کنگره ایرانیان کانادا بیانیه زیر را منتشر کرد: “در تاریخ 15
جون 2012، دکتر فرخ زندی رئیس هیأت مدیره کنگره ایرانیان
کانادا استعفای سه تن از اعضای هیأت مدیره را قبول کرد. آقای
مهرداد خلیلی، خانم شعله خلیلی و خانم نیاز سلیمی استعفاهای
خود را در 12 جون 2012 ارایه کرده بودند. کنگره ایرانیان
کانادا از سال ها خدمات این سه عضو سابق هیأت مدیره به کنگره و
به کامیونیتی ایرانی – کانادایی تشکر می کند. کنگره پست های
خالی را مطابق با قوانین داخلی خود Bylaws پر خواهد کرد.”
سلام تورنتو
شهروند |
June 14, 2012
کارزار کنگره ایرانیان برای بازگشایی بخش ویزای
سفارت کانادا در تهران
- سلام تورنتو |
June 12, 2012
شهروند
استعفای سه تن از اعضای هییت مدیره - نیاز
سلیمی - شعله خلیلی - مهرداد خلیلی (قرکانی) |
17 May 2012
Shahrvand Newspaper Reports on ICC`s Letter to Minister
Kenney
Shahrvand, a leading community newspaper in
Toronto, reported on ICC`s letter to Minister Kenney
concerning Canada`s decision to close the Tehran visa
office.
Read the full letter here.
http://www.shahrvand.com/archives/27627
http://iccongress.ca/inthenews/shahrvand-newspaper-reports-iccs-letter-minister-kenney#sthash.6WxIIeVx.dpuf
|
May 17, 2012
First post on ICC Facebook page
On May 8, 2012, the ICC sent a letter to
Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration, and
Multiculturalism, expressing the concerns of the
Iranian-Canadian Community with respect to the decision to
close Canada`s visa office in Tehran. In particular, the ICC
noted that the community is deeply worried about worsening
backlogs and the increased costs and hassle of travel to
Turkey to obtain visas. The ICC also expressed concern that
that the decision to close the visa office was made without
consultation with the Iranian-Canadian community.
You can read the full text of the English and
Persian letter on the ICC's site.(http://iccongress.ca/index.php…) |
16 May, 2012
ICC applauded for putting pressure on Canada's Immigration
Minister
Radio Farda reports that Jason Kenney,
Canada's Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and
Multiculturalism, has vowed take action to ease restrictions
on Iranians who wish to travel to Canada. Radio Farda notes
that the Minister has made this statement in light of
actions taken by community groups, including the ICC, in
light of Minister Kenney's decision to close the temporary
visa office in Tehran. Read the full story (in Persian) here
.
http://www.radiofarda.com/content/f3_canada_will_faciliate_for_iranians_apply_visa/24582969.html
http://iccongress.ca/inthenews/icc-applauded-putting-pressure-canadas-immigration-minister#sthash.VSSROnf7.dpuf
|
May 16, 2012
ICC President and Secretary Address Canada`s Senate
Committee on Foreign Affairs
On Wednesday, May 16, 2012,
Dr. Farrokh Zandi and Dr.
Sam Assadpour, President and
Secretary of the ICC’s board
of directors, respectively,
addressed the Canadian
Senate’s Standing Committee
on Foreign Affairs and
International Trade.
Dr. Zandi and Dr. Assadpour
emphasized the importance of
human rights as a central
pillar of Canada’s foreign
policy with respect to
Iran. In their remarks, they
also emphasized that Canada
should ensure that its
sanctions do not harm
ordinary people. They
further informed the
Senators that the
Iranian-Canadian community
is uniformly opposed to
war. “Given the deplorable
and deteriorating human
rights situation in Iran,”
Zandi said, “our urgent
priority should be to pursue
sanctions against the
Iranian government, entities
and individuals who commit
human rights abuses.“ In a
wide-ranging discussion with
the Senators, the ICC
representatives addressed
issues regarding Iranian
immigration to Canada, the
Iranian economy, and the
impact of sanctions on the
Iranian-Canadian community.
A webcast of this meeting
can be seen here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pS0FNtuD8w
http://iccongress.ca/articles/icc-president-and-secretary-address-canadas-senate-committee-foreign-affairs#sthash.Rn3EcYbY.dpuf |
May 8, 2012
ICC Calls on Minister of Immigration to Consider
Effect of Visa Office Closure
Today, the
ICC sent the
following
letter to
Jason
Kenney,
Minister of
Citizenship,
Immigration,
and
Multiculturalism,
expressing
the concerns
of the
Iranian-Canadian
Community
with respect
to the
decision to
close
Canada`s
visa office
in
Tehran. In
particular,
the ICC
noted that
the
community is
deeply
worried
about
worsening
backlogs and
the
increased
costs and
hassle of
travel to
Turkey to
obtain
visas. The
ICC also
expressed
concern that
the decision
to close the
visa office
was made
without
consultation
with the
Iranian-Canadian
community.
The full
text of the
letter, and
the Persian
translation, follows.
===========================
The
Honourable
Jason
Kenney,
P.C., M.P.
Minister of
Citizenship,
Immigration
and
Multiculturalism
Delivered
via E-Mail
RE: Closure
of Tehran
Visa and
Immigration
Section
May 8, 2012
Dear
Minister
Kenney,
I write to
you on
behalf of
the board of
directors of
the Iranian
Canadian
Congress, an
organization
that seeks
to promote
the
interests of
Iranian-Canadians. You
had kindly
met with
previous
members of
our board on
March 1,
2012.
It has
recently
come to our
attention
that the
Visa and
Immigration
Section at
the Embassy
of Canada in
Iran (the
“Visa
Office”) has
been closed
and services
have been
transferred
to the
Embassy of
Canada in
Ankara,
Turkey.
Based on our
consultations
with
community
members and
organizations
such as the
Iranian-Canadian
Association
of
Immigration
Consultants,
we know that
members of
the
Iranian-Canadian
community
are deeply
concerned
that this
decision may
cause
significant
hardship to
their family
and friends
who wish to
visit them
in Canada.
Below I have
outlined
some of the
concerns of
the
Iranian-Canadian
community
which have
been
expressed to
us in recent
weeks. We
would be
happy to
work with
you and your
staff to
find
solutions to
these
concerns and
mitigate any
negative
effects on
the
Iranian-Canadian
community.
(1) Even
prior to the
closing of
the Visa
Office,
Iranians
seeking
temporary
visas to
Canada were
forced to
endure
significant
and
frustrating
delays in
the
processing
of their
visa
requests. Members
of our
community
are
concerned
that closing
the Visa
Office and
shifting the
responsibility
to the
Ankara
office (an
office
already
responsible
for
applications
from Turkey,
Azerbaijan,
Georgia, and
Turkmenistan)
would
increase
this backlog
substantially.
(2) We
understand
that
ten-year
Super Visas
recently
introduced
for parents
and
grandparents
are
considered
temporary
visas. The
introduction
of such
Super Visas
thus adds to
the pool of
temporary
visa
applicants
that are now
required to
refer to the
Ankara
office. Making
matters
worse, we
understand
that Super
Visas are
only granted
for the
period of an
applicant’s
passport
validity. Applicants
from Iran,
where
passports
expire every
five years,
are
therefore
required to
apply twice
for a Super
Visa. Many
community
members have
expressed
worry that
the increase
in the
number of
temporary
visa
applicants
will lead to
unmanageable
wait times
for a visa
for their
parents and
grandparents.
(3) Many
Iranian-Canadians
are
concerned
that certain
categories
of temporary
visa
applicants
may be
required to
travel to
Ankara to be
interviewed
and obtain
temporary
visas. This
would add
significant
cost and
hassle for
Iranian visa
applicants.
(4) Many
members of
our
community
have
expressed
confusion
about the
consultation
process
adopted with
respect to a
decision
with such
significant
impact on
their
families and
friends in
Iran.
(5) There is
a lack of
clarity
about
processes in
place to
ensure a
safe
mechanism
for pick-up
and delivery
of passports
and
documents,
and the
payment of
processing
and
application
fees in
light of
restrictions
imposed by
the Special
Economic
Measures
Act.
The
Iranian-Canadian
community is
certainly
sensitive to
the need for
cost saving
and
efficiency
in
government,
which are
the stated
reasons for
this
closure. However,
in the
absence of
additional
information
and
assurances,
the
community is
deeply
worried that
any cost
saving from
this measure
would be
negligible
compared to
the
suffering
imposed on
their
families and
friends in
Iran.
The
community is
further
concerned
that any
additional
burden
placed on
the Iranian
people may
be
detrimental
to Canada’s
stated
policy of
supporting
the Iranian
people’s
demands for
democracy,
human
rights,
freedom, and
the rule of
law.
I look
forward to
receiving
your
response at
your
earliest
convenience. Members
of the
Iranian
Canadian
Congress
would be
happy to
speak
further with
you or your
staff about
finding
solutions to
the concerns
of the
Iranian-Canadian
community
outlined
above.
Sincerely,
Dr. Farrokh
Zandi
President
Iranian
Canadian
Congress
CC: The
Honourable
John Baird,
The Minister
of Foreign
Affairs
===================================================================
عالیجناب
جیسون کنی،
P.C.، M.P.
وزیر شهروندی،
مهاجرت و چند
فرهنگی
تحویل از
طریق پست
الکترونیکی
موضوع: بستن
بخش ویزا و
مهاجرت دفتر
تهران
۸ می ۲۰۱۲
جناب وزیر
کنی عزیز ،
من این نامه
را از طرف
هیئت مدیره
کنگره
ایرانیان
کانادا،
سازمانی که
به دنبال
ترویج منافع
کانادایی های
ایرانی تبار
است به شما
مینویسم. شما
قبلا در
تاریخ اول
مارس ۲۰۱۲
لطف کرده و
با اعضای
قبلی هیئت
مدیره ملاقات
کرده بوید.
اخیرا توجه
ما به این
جلب شده است
که بخش ویزا
و مهاجرت
سفارت کانادا
در ایران ("دفتر
ویزا") بسته
شده است و
خدمات آن به
سفارت کانادا
در آنکارا در
ترکیه منتقل
شده است.
بر اساس
رایزنی های
ما با اعضای
جامعه و
سازمان هایی
مانند انجمن
ایرانی-
کانادایی
مشاوران
مهاجرت، ما
می دانیم که
اعضای جامعه
ایرانی-
کانادایی
عمیقا
نگرانند که
این تصمیم
ممکن است
سختی قابل
توجهی را به
خانواده ها و
دوستانشان که
مایل به
دیدار آنها
در کانادا
هستند، تحمیل
کند.
در زیر من
برخی از
نگرانی های
جامعه ایرانی-
کانادایی را
که در هفته
های اخیر
برای ما بیان
کرده اند
خلاصه میکم. ما
خوشحال
خواهیم شد تا
برای پیدا
کردن راه حل
هایی برای
رفع این
نگرانی ها و
کاهش هر گونه
اثرات منفی
بر روی جامعه
ایرانی-
کانادایی با
شما و
کارکنان شما
همکاری کنیم.
(1) حتی قبل
از بسته شدن
دفتر ویزا،
ایرانیان
متقاضی ویزای
موقت به
کانادا،
مجبور به
تحمل
تاخیرهای
قابل توجه و
کلافه کننده
ای در پردازش
درخواست های
ویزای خود
میشدند. اعضای
جامعه ما
نگران آن
هستند که
بسته شدن
دفتر صدور
ویزا و
انتقال
مسئولیت آن
به دفتر
آنکارا (دفتری
که در حال
حاضر مسئول
تقاضا ها از
ترکیه،
آذربایجان،
گرجستان، و
ترکمنستان
است ) این
تاخیرها را
بطور قابل
ملاحظه ای
بازهم بیشتر
خواهد کرد.
(2) تا آنجا
که ما
میدانیم،
ویزای ده
ساله معروف
به "سوپر
ویزا" که به
تازگی جهت
استفاده پدر
و مادر و
پدربزرگ و
مادربزرگ ها
معرفی شده
ویزای موقت
محسوب میشود. معرفی
چنین سوپر
ویزایی، به
تعداد
متقاضیان
ویزای موقت
که باید به
دفتر آنکارا
مراجعه کنند
باز هم بیشتر
می
افزاید.آنچه
مشکل را بدترمیکند
اینست که تا
آنجا که ما
میدانیم،
سوپر ویزاها
فقط برای مدت
اعتبار
گذرنامه
متقاضی اعطا
میشوند. از
آنجا که
ایرانیان
باید گذرنامه
هایشان را هر
پنج سال
یکبار تمدید
یا تجدید
کنند،
بنابراین
لازم میشود
که برای
دریافت
هرسوپر ویزا
دو بار
درخواست ویزا
بعمل آید. بسیاری
از اعضای
جامعه این
نگرانی را
ابراز کرده
اند که
افزایش در
تعداد
متقاضیان
ویزای موقت
به غیر قابل
مدیریت شدن
زمان انتظار
ویزا برای
پدر و مادر و
پدربزرگ و
مادربزرگ شان
منجر شود.
(3) بسیاری
از ایرانی-
کانادایی ها
نگران این
هستند که
برای گروه
های خاصی از
متقاضیان
ویزای موقت ،ممکن
است لازم
باشد که برای
مصاحبه و
دریافت ویزا
به آنکارا
سفر کنند. این
امر هزینه ها
وزحمت های
قابل توجهی
را برای
متقاضیان
ایرانی ویزا
خواهد بار
خواهد آورد.
(4) بسیاری
از اعضای
جامعه ما
ابراز کرده
اند که تردید
دارند که
فرایند
مشاوره
ایدرستی برای
اتخاذ یک
چنین تصمیم
مهمی که
تاثیر قابل
توجهی بر
خانواده و
دوستان آنها
در ایران
دارد، بکار
گرفته شده
باشد.
(5) با توجه
به محدودیت
های اعمال
شده توسط "قانون
اقدامات ویژه
اقتصادی"،
نوعی عدم
شفافیت در
مورد راه کار
ها برای
اطمینان از
یک روش امن
تحویل دادن و
گرفتن
گذرنامه ،
مدارک و یا
پرداخت هزینه
های پردازش
تقاضانامه ها
وجود دارد.
جامعه ایرانی-
کانادایی
قطعا نسبت به
نیاز به صرفه
جویی در
هزینه ها و
بهره وری در
دولت، که
دلایل اعلام
شده برای این
تعطیلی است،
حساس است . با
این حال، در
سایه عدم
وجود اطلاعات
کافی و
اطمینان های
لازم، جامعه
عمیقا نگران
است که هر
گونه صرفه
جویی در
هزینه از
رهگذر این
اقدام، در
مقایسه با
درد و رنجی
که به
خانواده ها و
دوستان شان
در ایران
تحمیل شده
است، ناچیز
خواهد بود.
جامعه همچنان
نگران آن است
که هر بار
اضافی که بر
دوش مردم
ایران قرار
داده شود
ممکن است به
سیاست اعلام
شده از سوی
کانادا مبنی
بر حمایت از
خواسته های
مردم ایران
برای
دموکراسی،
حقوق بشر،
آزادی و
حکومت قانون،
آسیب برساند.
من مشتاقانه
منتظر دریافت
پاسخ شما در
اولین فرصت
مناسب هستم. اعضای
کنگره
ایرانیان
کانادا
خوشحال
خواهند بود
تا با شما و
یا کار
کنانتان در
مورد یافتن
راه حل ها
نسبت به
نگرانی های
جامعه ایرانی
- کانادایی
که به اجمال
در بالا آمده
است، بیشتر
صحبت کنند.
با احترام،
دکتر فرخ
زندی
رئيس کنگره
ایرانیان
کانادا
رونوشت به:
جناب جان
بیرد، وزیر
امور خارجه
http://iccongress.ca/articles/icc-calls-minister-immigration-consider-effect-visa-office-closure#sthash.p0sPLYMB.dpuf |
29 April, 2012
TAKE ACTION - VISA OFFICE LETTER OF PROTEST
HELP THE ICC CONVEY THE COMMUNITY’S
CONCERN TO THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT
On April 29, 2012, the Government
of Canada announced that it was closing its Visa Office in
Tehran for budgetary reasons. This decision can cause
significant delays for our family members seeking visas and
was made without consultation with the Iranian-Canadian
community. The Iranian Canadian Congress has written to the
Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship,
Immigration and Multiculturalism, and has urged him to
consider the negative effects of this decision.
http://iccongress.ca/events?page=5#sthash.PAdp5SHr.dpuf
|
29 April, 2012
FOURTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND BOARD ELECTIONS
Fourth ICC’s Annual General Meeting:
Date: Sunday April 29th 2012, 3.00 PM – 4.30 PM
Location: Council Chambers, North York Civic Centre, 5100
Yonge St, Toronto, ON Building on our accomplishments in
past 4 years, ICC is preparing for an even more productive
year in 2012 & 2013. We accepted candidacy from those who
submitted their bio through email or mail before 12.01 AM
April 23rd 2012. List of Candidates: Mr. David Mousavi , Ms.
Nasrin Javanfar, Mr. Ahmad (Ed) Dolatabadi , Mr. Sam
Assadpour , Mr. Farrokh Zandi , Mr. Kaveh Shahrooz , Mr.
Davod Kafai . -
http://iccongress.ca/events?page=6#sthash.dBLVP5J1.dpuf
|
در سال 2012 لوگو کنگره بدون آنکه به اطلاع
عموم رسد و یا در رابطه با آن نظر خواهی شود توسط هییت مدیره
تغییر کرد.
لینک فیسبوک
 |
|
|
Sholeh Dolatabadi
Saturday January 17, 2015
اقاى كاوه شهروز كانديداى مورد صحبت هستند. هيچ سندى مبنى بر
عضويت ايشان از ابتدا در كنگره ايرانيان وجود نداشت. يكى دو
هفته قبل از انتخابات يكى از دوستان را به جلسه هييت مديره
فرستادند تا موافقت اعضا را براى كانديتاتورى اقاى شهروز جلب
كند كه با توضيح جمع در مورد خلاف اساسنامه بودن اين درخواست،
عليرغم اصرار و فشار اين فرد، جلسه پايان يافت. اقاى شهروز اما
به اين پاسخ قانوني اكتفا نكردند و در ضمن مذاكرات، و مشاجرات،
متعدد با هييت مديره ، تا همان روز انتخابات، تا آنجا پيش
رفتند كه اعلام كردند كه به عنوان يك وكيل استشهاد نامه اى
خواهند نوشت كه ايشان در سال اول كار كنگره عضو بوده اند در
حاليكه هيچ نشانى از ايشان در مدارك كنگره موجود نبود و
متقابلا ايشان حتى يك ايميل از كنگره دريافت نكرده بودند. نكته
جالب كه به ايشان هم ياد آورى شد اين بود كه در دوره اول منشى
كنگره خواهر خود ايشان، خانم لادن شهروز، بودند كه چنانچه
اختلالى در ارتباط با دريافت ايميل هاى كنگره توسط ايشان موجود
بود ميتوانستند به آسانى پيگيرى كنند. در روز انتخابات هم عده
اى از دوستان در اطاق بالاى سالن اصلى ميز مستطيل بزرگى را
ترتيب دادند و دوباره خواستار پذيرش اقاى شهروز براى شركت در
انتخابات شدند كه باز هم هيات مديره ايشان را به اساسنامه
كنگره ارجاع دادند. با گذشت زمان و دير كرد جلسه همچنان فشار
براى پذيرش ايشان ادامه داشت تا اين كه ما از تمام كسانى كه
عضو هييت مديره نبودند خواستيم كه اطاق را ترك كنند و پس از
گفتگوى زياد اكثريت اعضا پيشنهاد كردند كه پذيرفتن شركت ايشان
در انتخابات ، بدون ذكر نام ، به رأى اعضا حاضر در جلسه گذاشته
شود. البته چندى بعد كه اين حسن نيت هييت مديره سابق در مورد
اقاى شهروز در جلسه با مديدان جديد عنوان شد آقاى زندى مشخصا
اعلام كردند كه ما اينهمه عضو را اورديم كه اگر شما
كانديتاتورى اقاى شهروز را نپذيريد همه
شما را بيرون كنند. اينهمه شرح ماوقع!!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.goftoshenidiranian.blogspot.ca/1597219520523935/?notif_t=group_comment
January 14, 2015
January 17, 2015 at 4:33pm
 |
عدم شفافیت و قانونمندی هییت مدیره در سال 2012
مواردی که مایل هستیم در رابطه با آن بیشتر
بدانیم و در سال 2012 صورت گرفته است:
1- مراحل قانونی و اجرائی جهت تغییر لوگوی کنگره
2- حذف سایت کنگره و جایگزینی آن با یک سایت جدید بدون آنکه از
سایت قبلی کپی نگاهداری شود
3- اقدام به بازبینی اساسنامه توسط یک گروه خاص بدون دعوت و
اطلاع رسانی عمومی
4- در سال 2012 شش استعفا در هییت
مدیره انجام میگیرد که هیچکدام از آنها در سایت کنگره اعلام
نشده است
January 22, 2015 at 9:22pm
آقاى شهروز، توضيح در مورد وظائف من به عنوان خزانه دار
در گزارشات مجمع عمومى موجود است. من براى خزانه دارى به هيئت
مديره وارد نشدم اما اين عنوان به من داده شد و من هم در حد
امكان در اين مورد خاص كار كوچكي انجام دادم. آنچه من از خزانه
دار قبلى تحويل گرفتم يك دسته چك تك امضا بود كه به جاى دسته
چك دو امضا كه من و آقاى تاج دولتى تحويل هيئن مديره اول داده
بوديم استفاده ميشد. به اضافه لأشه دو چك برگشتى و يك ورق
صورتحساب بانك كه حدود ٥ دلار در آن موجود بود. اولين كار من
اين بود كه دسته چك را مجددا به دو امضا تغيير دهم و از جيب
جمع هيئت مديره مبلغى در حساب بگذارم تا احيانا چك ديگرى
برنگردد چون تعداد چك هاى كشيده شده نامعلوم بود. بعد از آن هم
در طى يكسال و نيمى كه من در كنگره بودم، به عنوان يكى
از مديران و نه فقط خزانه دار، سعى كردم با جمع آورى پول، در
حد احتياج، از داخل هيئت مديره مخارج روزمره كنگره را، از قبيل
كرايه سالن، چاپ فرم ها و بروشور، پرداخت پول تلفن و صندوق
پستى و غيره را بپردازم. تنها بدهى بزرگ كنگره كه از هيئت
مديره قبلى به ما منتقل شد مخارج سايت و
server بود كه بخشى از اين بدهى
هنوز باقيست و هيئت مديره دوران شما كه مدعى جمع آورى بيش از
صد هزار دلار بوده از پرداخت اين بدهى دو هزار دلاري امتناع
كرد. تمام مدارك حسابدارى دقيقا تهيه شده بود و در همان جلسه
٢٠ ماه جون تحويل آقايان كفايى و زندى شد و بخشى از دو
كارتون مدارك كنگره بود. آقايان قرار بود كه بعد از بررسى
مدارك به ما رسيد تحويل بدهند كه از آن هم امتناع كردند و همه
اين موارد و تخلفات بيش از اين ها در ايميلى كه بين آقاى
اصفهانى زاده و آقاى زندى در ماه اكتبر ردوبدل شد موجود است و
اگر بخواهيد كل آنرا ميتوانم در همين صفحه بگذارم. در مورد
بستن حساب ها در آخر سال، من چنين كارى را انجام ندادم و هيئت
مديره قبل از ما هم انجام نداده بود. دليل من براى نبستن حساب
مالى ارقام منفى همه سال هاى فعاليت كنگره بود و من نميخواستم
چنانچه روزى كنگره بخواهد از دولت كمكى دريافت كند به خاطر اين
رقم هاى منفى تقاضايش رد شود. در ضمن تا انجا كه من ميدانم
سازمان هايى مثل كنگره كه درآمد ندارند و ماليات نميگيرند
مجبور نيستند كه در همان يكى دو سال اول اين كار را انجام
بدهند. من چون با اداره دارايي كانادا از طرف يك سازمان غير
انتفاعى ديگر تماس گرفته بودم اين مسئله را شنيده بودم. اين در
پاسخ سوال شما بود و حالا من ميخواهم از شما بپرسم كه آيا شما
به عنوان وكيل با تجربه و تنها فرد فعال كنگره آيا نميدانستيد
كه به محض تغيير در تركيب هيئت مديره ميبايد به وزارت مربوطه
خبر بدهيد؟ ما در تاريخ ١٢ جون استعفا داديم و در آخرين
استعلامى كه من از وزارتخانه در تاريخ ٢٥ اكتبر گرفته ام هنوز
اسامى ما و حتى آقاى اصفهانى زاده به عنوان مديران كنگره موجود
است و اگر لازم باشد اين مدرك را هم ميتوانم همينجا بگذارم.
اين مسئله از نظر من هم مشكل قانونى دارد و هم اخلاقى چون شما
ما را مسئول سياست ها و فعاليت هايى قلمداد كرديد كه ما در
اعتراض به آنها استعفا كرده بوديم. و آيا شما نميدانستيد كه بر
طبق اساسنامه اگر تعداد اعضاى هيئت مديره از دو سوم به
علاوه يك كمتر باشد ميبايد مجمع عمومى تشكيل بدهيد و حق انتصاب
اعضا جديد را نداريد. آيا غير از اين است كه بعد از
استعفاى ما سه نفر جمع ٩ نفره هيئت مديره به ٦ نفر تقليل پيدا
كرد كه تنها دو سوم كل نفرات بودند. در چنين شرايطى آيا كار
شما نقض قانون و اساسنامه نبود؟ اين سوال ها فقط بخشى از
تخلفاتيست كه از نظر من در دوران شما انجام شده. اگر مايل
بوديد هم موضوعات بيشترى موجود است و هم مدارك لازم. با احترام
|
گفتگو در فیسبوک و
مقایسه نحوه رفتار کاوه شهروز و بیژن احمدی
12 November 2016
November 12, 2016
شهرام جان،
مقایسه دو فرد در رفتار های
اجتماعی به آن معنا نیست که این دو فرد از نظر شخصیتی در
همه زمینه ها شبیه هم میباشند. من رفتار های کاوه و بیژن
را در چند نکته زیر در رابطه با فعالیت هایشان در کنگره کم
و بیش شبیه هم میبینم.
1- کاوه وب سایت و لوگوی
کنگره را تغییر میدهد بدون اینکه حتی از هییت مدیره نظر
خواهی کند. بخشی از وبسایت را که به سالیان قبل از حضورش
در هییت مدیره میبود حذف میکند و به هیچ کس هم جوابگو
نبوده است.
2- در یکسال حضورش در هییت مدیره با اینکه کنترل کلیه
فعالیت ها را در اختیار داشته است یک صورتجلسه هم به اعضاء
داده نشده است.
3- بدون هیچ اطلاع رسانی به بازنگری اساسنامه در پشت درب
های بسته می پردازد و یکماه به انتخابات مانده آنرا علنی
میکند. اگر استعفا نداده بود اساسنامه ای که به این صورت
تهیه شده بود حتمن به رای گیری هم گذارده میشد.
4- کاوه هیچوقت در مقابل اعضاء احساس مسئولیت نمیکرد.
ایشان هیچوقت دلیل استعفای خود را اعلام نکرد.
5- کاوه یک هفته به انتخابات مانده استعفا میدهد و طبق
اطلاعات غیر رسمی تمام تلاش خود را برای اینکه مجمع عمومی
صورت نگیرد بکار میگیرد.
6- سال 2012 یکی از آن سال هائی میباشد که بیشترین استعفاء
ها درهییت مدیره صورت میگیرد ولی هیچکدام از آنها در سایت
کنگره منعکس نمیگردد. کاوه کنترل سایت کنگره را 100% در
اختیار داشته است.
7- دلیل اختلاف و استعفای کاوه با اعضای کلیدی هییت مدیره
باز هم طبق اطلاعات غیر رسمی تلاش در اختیار گرفتن قدرت و
صدارت در هییت مدیره بوده است.
9- عضویت کاوه و شرکت او در انتخابات سال 2012 سئوال
برانگیز و غیر عادی بوده است.
8- کاوه سعی داشت با جایگزینی اعضای مستعفی هییت مدیره با
حامیان خود قدرت را در دست بگیرد.
9- بطور کلی کاوه فردی جوابگو نبوده است. منافع فردی را به
منافع جمعی ارجحیت داده، خود را برتر دانسته و در زمان
عضویتش در هییت مدیره نه تنی به اعضاء، بلکه به دیگر اعضای
هییت مدیره از بالا به پائین نگاه میکرده است.
شهرام جان،
با کدام یک از این موارد مخالف هستی؟ در صورت صحت گفته های
من باز هم شباهت هائی میان بیژن و کاوه نمی بینی؟ به هر
حال هدف من از مطرح کردن این مورد زیرسئوال بردن رفتار
کاوه در رابطه با کنگره در سال 2012 نبوده است. با مطرح
کردن وجه تشابهات، هدف من اشاره به تکرار تجربه سال 2012
در سال 2016 میباشد که برخاسته از رفتار های دو فرد میباشد
که در جاه طلبی هیچکدام چیزی کمتر از دیگری ندارد.
|
|