Iranian conscripts call for immigration exemption after mandatory service

Conservative MP James Bezan looks on as Ardeshir Zarezadeh, president of the International Center for Human Rights and a former Iranian political prisoner, holds up a paper during a news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA — The International Centre for Human Rights and members of the Iranian community are calling on Ottawa to stop branding Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps conscripts as inadmissible to the country by default.

Some former IRGC conscripts attending a Parliament Hill press conference today said they’re being punished for being forced to serve in what the Canadian government considers a terrorist entity.

The former conscripts say while they support that designation, their futures now hang in the balance as they look to appeal their immigration status.

Alberta Conservative MP Garnett Genuis told the press conference the government should adopt legislation he tabled in 2023 which would have created an immigration exemption for IRGC conscripts.

Ardeshir Zarezadeh, president of the International Centre for Human Rights, said he has raised the issue with the parliamentary secretaries for public safety and immigration and they said they would look into it.

Iranian-Canadians rallied on Parliament Hill today to draw attention to the issue and call for a solution.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2026.

David Baxter, The Canadian Press