On Wednesday, Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will deliver a speech. However, not everyone will be attending. During his speech, Canada's seat will be empty as part of a boycott.
Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, Catherine Loubier, confirmed that Canada will not be attending Ahmadinejad's speech at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, reports the
Toronto Sun.
There are several reasons why but, according to
The Canadian Press, the Iranian President's viewpoints on the Holocaust is one of them, "His hostile views towards our democratic ally Israel, and . . . the continual violation of the human rights of the people of Iran. President Ahmadinejad's repeated denial of the Holocaust and his anti-Israel comments run counter to the values of the UN General Assembly and are shameful," Loubier stated in an e-mail.
Since 2003, Canada and Iran have had diplomatic animosity ever since
Zahra Kazemi, an Iranian-Canadian photojournalist from Montreal, died in Iranian custody after she was beaten and tortured.
According to the
Ottawa Citizen, Israel will welcome this move by the Canadian government. Gabriela Shalev, Israeli ambassador to the UN, told
Israeli Army Radio, "A few days ago, he gave a new speech of hate. The simple fact of leaving the room during his speech, or not to be present during it, is a symbolic act. We are simply reminding them of how dangerous this person and the country that he leads are."
Israel urged the delegates in the chamber to stay away as Ahmadinejad delivers his speech.
Also, Germany Foreign Ministry asked members of the European Union to stage a walkout during his speech because of his denial of the holocaust.
Nevertheless, Iranian officials have claimed that this week’s speech by the Iranian leader will be a message of “peace and friendship.”
