In a surprising turn of world events, Dr. Saren Mahmudi-Azer, an Iranian-Canadian father wanted for allegedly kidnapping his four Canadian children last August has been detained by Iranian officials says his ex-wife.
Alison Azer held a media conference in Ottawa Tuesday. She stated that the Iranian authorities, acting on Canada’s red Interpol notice, detained her ex-husband on June 12 in the province of West Azerbaijan.
“He has appeared in Iranian courts, is currently out on bail with mobility restrictions, and will make another court appearance in the coming weeks,” Azer said.
The St. Albert raised, Vancouver Island resident added her ex-husband is being monitored and is slated to appear before the courts in Urmina, Iran.
Before he allegedly abducted the children, Saren Azer was a widely respected physician on Vancouver Island with a gold-plated career.
He was once praised by Jason Kenney for doing “tremendous work” with the Kurdish community and was featured in one of Prime Minister Harper’s promotional videos discussing Canada’s mission fighting Islamic extremists in Iraq.
He is now accused of abducting his children to war-torn Iraq in August 2015 during a family holiday in Europe. From Northern Iraq, he later crossed the border illegally into Iran, settling in Western Azerbaijan where his mother, four brothers and four sisters live, Alison Azer said.
She also renewed a call for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to contact the Iranians and expedite the release of Sharvahn, 11, Rojevahn, 10, Dersim, 7 and Meitan, 4.
“The prime minister needs to pick up the phone and speak directly to his counterpart in Iran. As I’ve outlined in my comments, the Iranians have shown a willingness and actions as a result of Canada’s Interpol notice.
They are motivated to resolve this. I need the prime minister of Canada to show a similar motivation and work with the Iranians and to thank them for the steps they’re already taking and find a way to bring my children home,” she said.
After months and numerous unsuccessful tries lobbying both prime ministers Harper and Trudeau, Azer finally met with the Liberal leader on May 17.
“He told me the Azer children’s file is now on his desk,” she stated.
Despite the lobbying and involvement of officials and politicians from a handful of countries, and a petition signed by 12,000 Canadians, Azer believes her children’s file is “collecting dust” on the prime minister’s desk.
She also alleges senior government officials blocked a request from the RCMP to contact Interpol Iran.
“From the information I have, the Government of Canada has made no request for action of the Iranians, or responded in kind to Iran’s willingness to speak with Canada about my children.”
If that is in fact true, Canadians supporting this cause may be demanding an explanation.
Unfortunately Global Affairs Canada and the Department of Foreign Affairs keep a tight lid on information, and it is unclear to what degree diplomats contacted their Middle Eastern counterparts.
The St. Albert Gazette contacted Global Affairs Canada for clarification of Azer’s statements. In a carefully guarded statement Global Affairs emailed a reply stating, “Privacy considerations prevent us from disclosing information pertaining to Canadian citizens abroad.”
After hearing of the agency’s response, a frustrated Azer said, “They continue to hide behind that and show an unwillingness to take action.”
In fact, Azer was scheduled to have a sit-down meeting at Global Affairs on Tuesday afternoon after the media conference.
“They cancelled the meeting and I haven’t heard from them since.”
In Montreal at a media scrum on Tuesday, Trudeau appeared to stumble over words when reporters questioned him about the slow progress of the Azer children’s return.
In a short video available on the Internet, he replied, “We have continued to be closely engaged on this troubling consular case. The Azer children are a real preoccupation, not just for Canadians, but for our government,” Trudeau said.
“There have been a number of engagements with the father including certain actions by authorities overseas. We continue to be very closely involved – the RCMP, consular services, the government of Canada to try and bring those kids home to safety.”
Early last month, the RCMP on Vancouver Island stated the children’s father contacted the department and assured them the children were safe. And in a Skype interview with Global TV, the father was adamant his children were healthy and happy.
Despite her ex-husband’s reassurances, Alison Azer is concerned the children are in danger because of their father’s prior links to the Iraqi terrorist organization PKK and the Kurdistan Democratic Party, a group that advocates for Kurdish rights.
“For the first time in 20 years the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) are in open armed conflict with the Iranian government.”
Azer, who has full legal custody of the children in Canada, urges the prime minster to bring the children home quickly.
“I cannot fathom starting another school year with my children in danger when I know the Canadian government could have done more but chose not to.”
