FSWC Deeply Concerned over Montreal Mayor's Visit to Tehran

Media Statement

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center's (FSWC) is deeplyconcerned to learn of Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre's visit with the Mayor ofTehran earlier this month, and the unfortunate legitimization of a regime whichis one of the greatest state sponsors of terror in the world.

"Mayor Coderre's meeting with Tehran Mayor Baqer Qalibaf was a public relations coup for the leaders of a city and a country who have repeatedly vowed toannihilate Israel, and are among the worst human rights abusers in theworld," explains FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo.

"In fact, on thevery day I was in Ottawa hosting a Rosh Hashanah Reception on Parliament Hill,the Canadian Friends of a Democratic Iran was holding a protest against the1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners by Iran's revolutionary government.I think it is incumbent on Mayor Coderre to explain why he has chosen to dealwith an abusive, terrorist regime with clearly articulated genocidalaims," he added.

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Contact
Stacey L. Starkman
Director of Communications & External Relations
416.864.9735 x 32 - office / sstarkman@fswc.ca

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is a leading Canadian non-profit human rights foundation directly representing over 30,000 members. FSWC is committed to countering racism and antisemitism and to promoting the principles of tolerance, social justice and Canadian democratic values through advocacy and educational programs including workshops, Freedom Day, the Spirit of Hope Benefit, Tools for Tolerance and the widely acclaimed new Tour for Humanity. FSWC is affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights organization headquartered in Los Angeles, which has won two Academy Awards, has built two Museums of Tolerance (with a third being built in Jerusalem) and is an NGO at the United Nations, UNESCO, OAS, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament. Visit us at www.fswc.ca