Thank you, Mr. Esmaeilion. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

On January 8, 2020, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard launched missile attacks against Ukraine National Airlines' flight PS752 shortly after takeoff from the Tehran international airport. The crew and 177 innocent passengers—many of whom were destined for Canada, including an unborn child—lost their lives in the terrifying attack in southwestern Tehran.

The missile attacks against Flight PS752 were not the first nor the last of the heinous crimes committed by the IRGC against Iranian Canadians. A few years earlier, Iranian-Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi and environmentalist Kavous Seyed-Emami were murdered by the Islamic regime and the IRGC.

The families of the PS752 victims have suffered persecution, threats and inhumane treatment by the Islamic regime over the last five years. UN Human Rights Watch has reported an escalation in torture and mistreatment of families of victims in Iran.

Last October, Mrs. Zarabi, who lost four of her loved ones in the downing of flight PS752, attended the funeral of a young woman named Armita Geravand, who had been murdered by the regime. Mrs. Zarabi was arrested and severely assaulted before being dragged on the ground into custody. A mourning mother of another victim was brutally beaten by IRGC forces at her child's gravesite. Some PS752 families have been banned from leaving Iran to attend the anniversary ceremonies of Flight PS752 victims in Toronto. There are many instances of persecution, threats, and arrests—even some kidnappings—during the anniversary ceremonies that families hold in Iran under severe security conditions.

In the aftermath of the downing of Flight PS752, the victims' families and activists believe that there has been much ambiguity in the Canadian government's position towards the IRGC. On the fourth anniversary of the downing of Flight PS752, we heard from our Prime Minister that he will take the necessary measures in this regard.

Seven months remain until the fifth anniversary of the downing, and we all know that the association expects a clear and swift response to our demand. We believe that since Canada has suffered most from the actions of the IRGC outside of Iran, it must be the first country to officially put the IRGC on the list of terrorist organizations. We hope that this will happen without any further delay.

Thank you kindly.