EXCLUSIVE: Pro-Iranian regime propaganda account revealed to be operating in Canada
A propaganda account promoting the Iranian regime and terrorism has been exposed as likely operating right here in Canada, thanks to a new location feature on the X platform.
A propaganda account promoting the Iranian regime and terrorism has been exposed as likely operating right here in Canada, thanks to a new location feature on the X platform.
Former Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP Goldie Ghamari, a refugee from Iran, revealed that Iran Military Monitor, an account that claims to be based in Iran, is actually based in Canada.
“This account, which has over 1.6 million followers and is based in Canada, has been glorifying and promoting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” Ghamari said in a post. “The IRGC is a listed terror entity in Canada. This person is a threat to our national security.”
The account’s “about“ page on X says it is based in Canada but adds: “The country or region that an account is based can be impacted by recent travel or temporary relocation. This data may not be accurate and can change periodically.”
One post, for example, calls the IRGC’s Qods forces “our brothers” despite the organization being a listed terrorist entity in Canada. The account also claims to get “exclusive” information about arms deals within Iran. In another post, the account shared a post celebrating recent airstrikes on Israel.
Some commenters are calling for the RCMP and CSIS to arrest whoever is behind the account.
Avideh Motmaen-Far, president of the Council of Iranian Canadians and a former federal Conservative nominee candidate, told True North that she and others in the Jewish and Iranian diaspora in Canada have been sounding the alarm for years about Iran regime-backed actors operating in Canada.
Motmaen-Far said despite the IRGC being listed as a terrorist entity, “there are still Iran regime-linked companies making money from Canadian business.” She added that she was not shocked to learn that Islamic regime in Iran-aligned accounts originate in Canada.
She said accounts like it have been working to bully and shut down dialogue from anti-regime refugees in Canada for years.
“These are definitely regime-operated accounts. They have at some points, bullied us (refugees). At some point, they misinform, they spread hate and disinformation,” Motmaen-Far said. “They use these kinds of accounts as they please. And I think it’s nothing new, but it is alarming that they can do that still despite Trudeau finally listing the IRGC.”
Motmaen-Far said she was “all for” a private member’s bill by Conservative MP Roman Baber to criminalize the promotion of terrorism. She called for more legislation, but also stronger enforcement of current anti-terrorism laws.
“What is not clear for me is that, since IRGC has been listed officially as a terrorist entity, what has happened? How has this legislation been implemented by the RCMP?” she said. “Every time I spoke with someone from CSIS, they said, ‘We can’t investigate or we cannot make arrests, and blah, blah.’ So I am wondering, like, what is the consequence of IRGC being listed or not listed?”
Motmaen-Far said she believed the IRGC is “obviously” continuing to fund protests and Hamas supporters and “bringing people to wreak havoc in the everyday life of the Jewish community or other people.”
When asked to respond to Motmaen-Far’s concerns that there has been no “consequential action” taken since listing the IRGC as a terrorist entity, CSIS directed True North to the RCMP. The RCMP said they would respond, but failed to do so before the provided deadline.
Public Safety Canada merely shared a link with True North about listed terrorist entities and the meaning of the listing, but did not provide examples of enforcement.
However, the RCMP announced Tuesday that a youth had been arrested for allegedly making and editing ISIS propaganda videos in the Greater Toronto Area.