Doctor wanted for kidnapping embraces Iran
A former Calgary doctor on the run from the RCMP, who spent years denouncing the Iranian government and obtained Canadian citizenship after claiming he would face execution if he returned to the Middle East nation, has embraced Iran again as his country.
Saren Azer has also obtained Iranian birth certificates for his four Canadian-born children as well as acknowledging his “own country” is now Iran, according to Iranian judicial records.
A year ago, the RCMP issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of abduction after he took the children, first to northern Iraq, then to Iran. Their kidnapping sparked debate in Parliament and prompted vigils across the country.
The Iranians detained Azer based on the RCMP warrant this year, but since Canada did not make any representations during court proceedings, he was released. The man was born in Iran, but is a Canadian citizen.
During his appearances in the Iranian court and police system, Azer said he had to “transfer my children to my own country, Iran, so that I can obtain custody of my children.”
He also applied for and was granted Iranian birth certificates for the kids, even though they were born in Canada, according to the court records obtained by his former wife, Alison Azer.
Alison Azer, who resides in Comox, B.C., but lived mainly in Calgary from 2004 to 2012, has legal custody of the children and has been fighting to have them returned home.
Saren Azer’s move to embrace Iran is in stark contrast to the story he told for more than two decades in Canada. The Iranian Kurd had claimed if he ever returned to Iran, he would be executed by the repressive regime that had tortured him.
Azer told journalists he had a 10-centimetre scar on his stomach from the iron bar beatings he received in prison. He also claimed the Iranians tortured him with electric shocks and high-pressure water because he advocated Kurdish writings and poetry.
The man came to Canada in 1994; the next year, he was granted refugee status, based on his torture claims.
Throughout his decades-long stay in Canada, Azer gave public talks denouncing Iran and its leaders.
But during his appearance before the Iranian legal system this year, Azer claimed he came to Canada to study, according to the documents. The Iranians did not question him about his previous statements condemning their country.
Alison Azer said she was surprised Iran didn’t look deeper into her former husband’s background.
“Iran followed all the right international procedures by detaining him,” she said. “However, he can be very manipulative.”
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service had raised concerns Saren Azer was linked to a terrorist organization, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party or PKK.
In 2000, the Liberal government set aside those concerns and in November 2006 Azer became a Canadian citizen.
Alison Azer said she divorced her husband after he became abusive and more deeply involved with the PKK. He has denied her accusations.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the return of the Azer children is a priority for his government.
But Alison Azer has raised concerns Canadian diplomats have bungled the case. She criticized Global Affairs Canada for not sending any representatives to the court proceedings to make the case Iran should return Saren Azer to face charges. As a result, the Iranian court released him, according to Iranian judicial documents.