Canadian authorities have reportedly foiled an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate a former justice minister and prominent critic of Tehran, Irwin Cotler, according to Cotler’s organization on Monday.
Cotler, 84, served as Canada’s justice minister and attorney general from 2003 to 2006. Although he retired from politics in 2015, he continues to champion human rights through various international organizations.
The Globe and Mail newspaper reported that Cotler was informed on October 26 of an imminent assassination threat by Iranian agents, expected within 48 hours. Authorities reportedly tracked two suspects involved in the plot, though no further details on arrests have been disclosed.
In an email to AFP, the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, where Cotler serves as international chair, confirmed the media report. A spokesperson for the organization, Brandon Golfman, stated that Cotler “has no knowledge or details regarding any arrests made.”
Iran Denies Allegations
The Iranian government has denied the accusations, describing them as baseless. Tehran’s official IRNA news agency quoted Issa Kameli, director general for the Americas at Iran’s foreign ministry, as saying, “The claim of Canadian media that Iran tried to assassinate a Canadian person” is “ridiculous storytelling and in line with the misinformation campaign against Iran.”
Reactions in Canada
A spokesperson for Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc declined to comment, citing security concerns. Francois-Philippe Champagne, another senior government minister, described the alleged plot as “very concerning.” Jean-Yves Duclos, Quebec’s senior minister, expressed sympathy for Cotler and his family, noting how difficult it must have been to learn of the threat.
The Canadian House of Commons unanimously passed a motion praising Cotler’s contributions to human rights and condemning the alleged assassination threat “orchestrated by agents of a foreign regime.”
Cotler’s Activism and Security Measures
Irwin Cotler has been under police protection for more than a year, a precaution following the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel by Hamas gunmen. Cotler, who is Jewish and an advocate for Israel, has campaigned globally to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
His activism has drawn attention in previous international investigations. Cotler’s name reportedly surfaced in an FBI probe into a 2022 Iranian murder-for-hire plot targeting American human rights activist Masih Alinejad in New York.
In June, Canada officially listed the IRGC as a banned terrorist organization, citing Iran’s “consistent disregard for human rights both inside and outside of Iran, as well as a willingness to destabilize the international rules-based order.”
As a lawyer, Cotler represented Iranian political prisoners and dissidents. His daughter, Michal Cotler-Wunsh, is an Israeli politician and diplomat who has served in Israel’s parliament.
Canada severed diplomatic ties with Iran over a decade ago, further reflecting strained relations. The foiled assassination plot has heightened concerns about foreign interference and threats to human rights defenders globally.
