Former Richmond Hill politicians pleased with Iranian prison escapee's return to Canada

An Iranian Canadian permanent resident has returned to Canada after 11 unjust years in Iranian prison

Yorkregion.com
August 19, 2019
Aileen Zangouei

An Iranian Canadian permanent resident who was imprisoned for 11 years in Iran has returned to Canada after escaping.

Saeed Malekpour was a computer programmer who designed a program that would allow clients to upload photographs and data files. He attached his name to the program, and Iranian officials learned that it was being used for adult content.

When he visited Iran in 2008 to visit his ill father, he was arrested on allegations of internet crime. He was convicted of running the website.

Since then, Malekpour has been on and off death row before the Iranian government definitely commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment.

York Region Media Group spoke with Malekpour's wife, Fatima Eftekhari, at the time. She is a former Richmond Hill resident.

She said the inappropriate use of her husband's program was unknown to him and, if he had known about it, he would not have attached his name to it or visited Iran.

Reza Moridi, former MPP of Richmond Hill, told York Region Media Group he was happy to hear that Malekpour managed to return to Canada.

Moridi called the charges against Malekpour "superficial" and deems the Iranian regime the main factor as to why Canada can't have relations with it.

Moridi is an Iranian Canadian, and said he does not visit Iran because of how critical he has been of the Iranian regime.

"Given the current characteristics of Iran, Canada cannot have diplomatic relations with Iran," Moridi said.

He spoke of an Iranian lady he met who had set up a charity to fund a program where people take care of babies born in Iranian prison. He said the prisoners are there because of political beliefs.

"So, this is what's going on in Iran," he said.

Moridi has used his political position to speak for Malekpour's release from prison. He introduced a petition asking members of government to sign it for the release of Malekpour.

"I'm so glad, so relieved of his return, and I hope that other political prisoners will also be released in Iran," Moridi said.

Malekpour's sister, Maryam, tweeted a video showing her and her brother walking side by side in the airport upon his arrival in Canada on Aug. 2.

"Breaking: My brother Saeed Malekpour has just arrived to Canada! The nightmare is finally over! Thank you Canada for your leadership. And thank you to every single person who supported us throughout this time. Together we prevailed," she tweeted.

Bryon Wilfert, who represented Richmond Hill as the former Liberal MP for Richmond Hill from 1997 to 2011, also played a role in seeking Malekpour's release.

He told York Region Media Group that he had the opportunity to directly engage with the Iranian authorities, and at the time used Iran's interest in improving relations with Canada to work on Malekpour's release.

"I suggested to get him off death row, which he eventually did get off of, and when I left Parliament he was back on death row," Wilfert said.

Wilfert said he is amazed that Malekpour is out of Iranian prison, and that he will need some time to readjust to things and needs time with his family.