Canada’s Stance on Protests Meddlesome

Iran censured Canada’s “meddlesome” stance on recent gatherings in protest against economic conditions in some Iranian cities, saying it lacks any validity. “The Islamic Republic regards the meddlesome stance of the Canadian government as a violation of that country’s legal and international commitments,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Sunday, Press TV reported. He said the Canadian government’s position was not in conformity with remarks by the country’s senior officials about the importance of improving interaction and dialogue with Iran. “Unfortunately, the Canadian government’s rhetoric is a rehash of the wrong, illogical and ineffective rhetoric of Canada’s previous governments against the Iranian people and is inadmissible,” the spokesperson pointed out. In a statement on Saturday, Canada’s Department of Global Affairs said the country was “encouraged by the Iranian people who are exercising their basic right to protest peacefully.” It called on the Iranian authorities to “uphold and respect democratic and human rights” and vowed to “continue to support the fundamental rights of Iranians, including the right to freedom of expression.” Since Thursday, groups of Iranian protesters have held rallies in several cities to voice their anger over rising prices and unemployment.