Response of Former Conscripts' Families to the Iranian Canadian Congress Statement

We, strongly condemn the "Statement by the Iranian Canadian Congress on the problems created for Mandatory Conscripts, dated December 2nd, 2024" recently issued by the Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC), an organization that has continuously engaged in lobbying efforts that align with the interests of the criminal regime of the Islamic Republic.

The ICC's statement, presented under the guise of advocating for the exclusion of IRGC mandatory conscription from being equated with affiliation to terrorist organization, is, in reality, a blatant attempt to lobby for objectives such as removing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from terrorist designations.

As families and individuals who have been directly affected by IRGC conscription issue, we categorically reject any effort to absolve the IRGC of its designation as a terrorist organization. The IRGC has been the primary force behind the destruction of Iran, the massacre and displacement of countless Iranians, and the perpetration of global terrorism.

Our family members are innocent individuals who were forcibly conscripted and enslaved by the IRGC for compulsory conscription. Our situation is entirely separate from the crimes and operations of IRGC terrorist organization.

Our advocacy for creating an exception for conscripts aims to ensure that the IRGC’s inclusion on terrorist lists specifically targets its criminal members and is enforced with full strength and precision.

We call for justice to be served and for a clear distinction to be made between innocent conscripts and the criminal terrorist organization that is the IRGC.