Maziar Bahari, Canadian, Arrested in Iran

[Jerry J. Fortin]

What I am saying is that that whole issue is completely beside the point, in this case. If this guy was over there shedding light on the acts committed by the Iranian regime, then he should have our support. If he was just there to visit or something, then whatever, let him rot, but as it is, he was serving our national interest.

So journalists should be accorded privilege instead of the right of the citizen?

[Bonam]

Journalists are accorded extra privilege and protection under all kinds of international agreements. But that is not the point. Individuals acting in our national interest should have our support, be they journalists or anything else. If he was an organizer of the riots, rather than a journalist, we should support him as well.

[capricorn]

If that is the case then he is serving the interests of Canada (and the rest of the West) in any case, whether or not he is a Canadian of convenience, so why not help him in his efforts?

I agree Canada should help him. He is entitled to consular help. I wouldn't go so far as to say Canada should facilitate his work. If Canada was seen as encouraging the work of a reporter who effectively works against a foreign ruling government, that country could conceivably refuse entry to all Canadians. Canadians blocked from entering Iran would work against our best interests.

[August1991]

So journalists should be accorded privilege instead of the right of the citizen?

Not always but in this case, yes.

Our governments treat different Canadians in Canada differently. They certainly treat different Canadians abroad differently.

In this case, this particular Canadian can advance our broader interests. For heaven's sake, we have several thousand troops now stationed in Afghanistan. Over the past six years or so, over a hundred Canadian soldiers have died in Afghanistan. This is a complicated fight that has to be waged in different ways.