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But some onlookers are concerned Iran’s motive is far more nefarious than some sort of public-relations stunt, particularly given recent allegations it was using its Ottawa embassy to spy on Iranian-Canadian dissidents.

Nazanin Afshin-Jam, an Iranian-Canadian activist and and president of Stop Child Executions, which advocates for minors on death row in Iran, said she would not put it past Mr. Ahmadinejad’s government to ask First Nations people to monitor Iranian-Canadians.

“I do not believe First Nations would accept to do such deplorable things, but I do not know what Terry Nelson is capable of,” she said, calling Mr. Nelson a “militant man” who in 2007 said there are only two ways of “dealing with the white man. Either you pick up a gun or you stand between him and his money.”

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On Wednesday night, before news broke that Mr. Nelson’s trip is slated for next week, Ms. Afshin-Jam spoke with Manitoba’s treaty commissioner about potentially visiting some First Nations communities to air her concerns about the delegation’s visit, particularly among those who support Mr. Nelson.

Mr. Nelson said several chiefs have encouraged his trip, while some have simply said “It’s your choice.” But Grand Chief David Harper, who represents 30 northern Manitoba communities, said not only does he personally oppose the trip, but the majority of chiefs he has heard from agree the visit is a terrible idea.

Iran has long armed and financed terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas, prompting Canada to take the unprecedented step last month of officially designating it a state supporter of terrorism, and Tehran has been complicit in the Syrian regime’s murder of its own people. This summer, Iran’s fervently anti-Israel, Holocaust-denying president said “anyone who loves freedom and justice must strive for the annihilation of the Zionist regime in order to pave the way for world justice and freedom.” The regime has also thwarted the International Atomic Energy Agency from inspecting its nuclear facilities.

Mr. Nelson’s trip to Iran will mark his second high-profile meeting with an oppressive, anti-western regime; in 1998, he accepted an invitation from the Saddam Hussein government.

National Post

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