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In a significant development highlighting concerns about foreign propaganda operations within Canada, a social media account promoting the Iranian regime and terrorism has been identified as operating from Canadian soil, thanks to a new location feature on X (formerly Twitter).
The account, “Iran Military Monitor,” which boasts over 1.6 million followers, has been exposed for allegedly promoting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) while claiming to be based in Iran. The revelation came from Goldie Ghamari, a former Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP and Iranian refugee, who noted that the account is actually based in Canada.
“This account has been glorifying and promoting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” Ghamari stated in a social media post. “The IRGC is a listed terror entity in Canada. This person is a threat to our national security.”
The X platform’s location feature indicates the account is operating from Canada, though the platform does note that location data “may not be accurate and can change periodically” due to factors such as travel or temporary relocation.
Content posted by the account includes references to the IRGC’s Qods forces as “our brothers” despite Canada officially designating the organization as a terrorist entity. The account also claims access to “exclusive” information about Iranian arms deals and has shared posts celebrating recent airstrikes against Israel.
In response to the discovery, some social media users have called for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to investigate and potentially arrest those behind the account.
Avideh Motmaen-Far, president of the Council of Iranian Canadians and a former federal Conservative nominee candidate, told True North that members of both the Jewish and Iranian diaspora communities in Canada have long been warning about Iran regime-backed actors operating within the country.
“Despite the IRGC being listed as a terrorist entity, there are still Iran regime-linked companies making money from Canadian business,” Motmaen-Far explained. She added that she was not surprised to learn about the presence of regime-aligned accounts originating from Canada.
According to Motmaen-Far, such accounts have systematically attempted to intimidate anti-regime refugees in Canada. “These are definitely regime-operated accounts. They have at some points bullied us refugees. They misinform, spread hate and disinformation,” she said. “They use these kinds of accounts as they please. It’s nothing new, but it is alarming that they can still do that despite Trudeau finally listing the IRGC.”
Motmaen-Far expressed support for a private member’s bill introduced by Conservative MP Roman Baber that would criminalize the promotion of terrorism. She also called for stronger enforcement of existing anti-terrorism laws, questioning the practical impact of listing the IRGC as a terrorist entity.
“What is not clear for me is that, since IRGC has been listed officially as a terrorist entity, what has happened? How has this legislation been implemented by the RCMP?” she questioned. “Every time I spoke with someone from CSIS, they said, ‘We can’t investigate or we cannot make arrests.’ So I am wondering, what is the consequence of IRGC being listed or not listed?”
She further alleged that the IRGC is “obviously” continuing to fund protests and Hamas supporters and “bringing people to wreak havoc in the everyday life of the Jewish community or other people.”
When asked to respond to these concerns about the lack of “consequential action” following the IRGC’s terrorist entity designation, CSIS directed inquiries to the RCMP. The RCMP indicated they would provide a response but failed to do so by the reporter’s deadline. Public Safety Canada simply shared information about listed terrorist entities and their designation significance without providing specific enforcement examples.
In a potentially related development, the RCMP announced on Tuesday that they had arrested a youth in the Greater Toronto Area for allegedly creating and editing ISIS propaganda videos, highlighting ongoing concerns about terrorism-related activities in Canada.
The case underscores growing tensions regarding foreign influence operations on Canadian soil and raises questions about the effectiveness of current anti-terrorism enforcement mechanisms.
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6 Comments
This is a concerning development. It’s critical that Canada takes robust action to address foreign propaganda operations on its soil, especially those linked to terrorist entities. Transparency and accountability are essential for national security.
Allowing Iranian regime propaganda to spread in Canada is a serious risk. The authorities need to closely monitor social media accounts and swiftly remove any content glorifying terrorist organizations or undermining Canadian values and security.
Exposing this Iran-linked propaganda account operating in Canada is a positive step, but more vigilance is needed. The government should strengthen its efforts to identify and shut down similar covert influence operations targeting Canadian citizens.
Promoting terrorist groups like the IRGC is completely unacceptable, regardless of the platform or location. The Canadian government must investigate this case thoroughly and take appropriate measures to shut down such propaganda efforts immediately.
This is a troubling revelation that highlights the need for greater scrutiny of social media activity, especially when it comes to accounts with links to designated terrorist organizations. Canada must take decisive steps to address this threat to national security.
It’s alarming to see the Iranian regime trying to infiltrate and influence public discourse in Canada through coordinated disinformation campaigns. Canadians deserve to have access to truthful, unbiased information, not propaganda from hostile foreign actors.