During the Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which was held from October 21 to 26, 2012 in the Canadian city of Quebec, John Baird slammed Iran for alleged violation of human and religious minorities' rights.
“It is regrettable that Canada’s minister of foreign affairs… takes advantage of the privilege of hosting this meeting to make spiteful remarks which are contrary to the international summit’s objectives,” Mehmanparast said on Wednesday.
The Iranian official said such “irresponsible literature” is against accepted international norms and is a “forward escape” tactic to avoid responsibility for the deplorable situation of human rights in Canada, particularly with regard to the country’s indigenous community.
Activists say there has been a significant rise in human rights violations together with an unprecedented crackdown on freedom of speech since Canadian Premier Stephen Harper took power in 2006.
Native Canadians remain among the poorest members of the Canadian society with most of them suffering poor educational, economic and social conditions.
The UN has also strongly condemned Canada's record on children's rights, accusing Ottawa of systematic discrimination against aborigines and immigrants.
According to reports, Canada has forced thousands of aboriginal children into ghastly boarding schools where they have been abused sexually, psychologically, and physically.
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