Honourable senators, I rise before you today to speak about the long-standing persecution of the Baha'i people in Iran. Over the past five years, the human rights of the Baha'i people have been deteriorating.

Although time does not permit me to describe the wide range of human rights violations that have been perpetrated by the Iranian government, I rise before you to shed light on new developments that are particularly troubling.

The Baha'i have traditionally relied on entrepreneurial ventures to sustain their livelihoods. However, since 2015, a new strategy has been adopted by the Iranian government to jeopardize this way of life.

Over the past three years, more than 200 businesses owned by Baha'i people have been boarded up due to the Iranian government's refusal to renew Baha'i business licences. This is all part of an explicit policy to close off the last remaining survival opportunities for Iran's 350,000 Baha'i people, and since the election to the presidency of "reformer" Hassan Rouhani in 2013, the persecution of Iranian minorities, especially the Baha'i people, has only grown worse.

Honourable senators, we as a country welcome many of the Baha'i faith, which has deep roots in this country's Aboriginal communities, and they are welcome among Canada's Iranian diaspora. It is our responsibility to protect these people who have created such close bonds with Canadians.

Honourable senators, for many years, I have spoken in the Senate about the persecution of the Baha'i, and before I came to the Senate I represented many Baha'i refugees. I do not know of another group as persecuted as the Baha'i are in Iran.

Honourable senators, I invite you to recognize the persecution of the Baha'i in Iran. This is an issue that we cannot ignore. The persecution of the Baha'i people is inexcusable, and it falls upon us to take action where we have previously been idle.