MACKAY: Canadians strong, courageous in wake of deadly plane crash
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Our country is mourning the loss of 63 Canadians and the dozens more who were bound for Canada on Flight 752 to visit family and friends. They were students, academics, newlyweds, young families and entrepreneurs returning to school, to work and to their homes, yet their lives were abruptly ended in a jarring act of violence.
As we have done throughout our history, Canadians are joining together to provide solace, support and comfort to those grieving and in need. It is what Canadians instinctively do and is one of our greatest strengths as a nation.
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Canadians and all those affected by this tragedy have a right and need to know what happened to Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752. Iran must immediately allow Canadian investigators access to the crash site and release the black boxes for independent analysis. To respect those lost and those in grief, Iran must commit to returning the victims’ remains to their loved ones. They must fully and immediately comply with all international independent investigations into the missiles that brought down the civilian aircraft from the skies.
Shahab Raana, right, & Sahan Hatefi Mostaghim are seen in this undated handout photo from the Institut Technique Aviron de Montreal Facebook page. The two men were among the 176 people who were killed when Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 crashed after takeoff near Tehran, Iran. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Institut Technique Aviron de Montreal - Facebook
Mehdi Eshaghian is shown in an undated handout photo. Eshaghian was among the 176 people who were killed when Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 crashed after takeoff near Tehran, Iran. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Ali Mazaheri
Zahra Naghibi poses in this undated handout photo. Naghibi was among the 176 people who were killed when Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 crashed after takeoff near Tehran, Iran. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - University of Windsor, Rupp Carriveau
Samira Bashiri, left, and Hamidreza Setareh pose in this undated handout photo. Bashiri and Setareh were among the 176 people who were killed when Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 crashed after takeoff near Tehran, Iran. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
Iran plane crash victim Roja Azadian, 43, said goodbye to her husband, Mohsen Ahmadipour, at the airport in Tehran. He had to book another flight because his ticket was no longer valid. The couple had planned to return to Ottawa together. Facebook Boeing Co. 737-800 aircraft, operated by Ukraine International Airlines, crashed shortly after takeoff near Shahedshahr, Iran, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020. Keywords: Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752; Iran plane crash; victim; January 8, 2020; Ottawa victim
Facebook photo of Fereshteh Maleki Dizaje, 41, one of the Tehran plane crash victims. Fereshteh Maleki Dizaje, 41, an architect, was returning after celebrating her daughter’s wedding in Tehran.
Farhad Niknam is shown in an undated handout photo. Niknam was among the 176 people who were killed when Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 crashed after takeoff near Tehran, Iran. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Sanaz Valadi
Marzieh (Mari) Foroutan, a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo. (Contributed/University of Waterloo)
Amir Ovaysi and his daughter Asal are shown in a handout photo. Ovaysi, his wife Sara Hamzeei, and their daughter Asal Ovaysi were among the 176 people who were killed when Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 crashed after takeoff near Tehran, Iran. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Troy Futher
Amir Ovaysi and his wife Sara Hamzeei are shown in a handout photo. The couple and their daughter Asal Ovaysi were among the 176 people who were killed when Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 crashed after takeoff near Tehran, Iran. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Troy Futher
Hadis Hayatdavoudi was one of the Canadians killed in the Ukrainian International Airlines crash in Iran.
Alma Oladi, a PHD Student at University of Ottawa, celebrated her 27th birthday in Tehran days before boarding the Ukraine International Airlines flight that was supposed to bring her back to Canada.
Milad Ghasemi Ariani, a PhD candidate in marketing and consumer studies at the University of Guelph, was killed in the Ukrainian International Airlines crash in Iran. (Towhidul Islam/University of Guelph)
Zeynab Asadi Lari is shown in a handout photo. Zeynab Asadi Lari has been confirmed as one of the victims of the Iran plane crash. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Parsa Shani
Mohammad Asadi Lari is shown in a handout photo. Mohammad Asadi Lari has been confirmed as one of the victims of the Iran plane crash. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Parsa Shani
Facebook photo of Fareed Arasteh, who has been confirmed as one of the victims of the Iran plane crash.
A school photo, part of a memorial to Arshia Arbabbahrami, at Western Canada High School on January 9, 2020. The grade 12 international student was killed on Flight 752 that went down in Tehran. Jim Wells/Postmedia
Amir Hossein Saeedinia, PhD student at the Center for Design of Advanced Materials at University of Alberta has been identified as another victim of the Ukraine International Airlines plane crash outside Tehran International Airport. (Supplied photo)
Calgarian Kasra Saati was killed when Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 bound for Kyiv crashed moments after it took off from the Tehran airport.
Pedram Mousavi and Mojgan Daneshmand, both professors of engineering at the University of Alberta, died along with their two young daughters, Daria, 14, and Dorina, 9 when the Boeing Co. 737-800 aircraft, operated by Ukraine International Airlines, crashed shortly after takeoff near Shahedshahr, Iran, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020. (Supplied photo)
Shekoufeh Choupannejad, an obstetrician, gynecologistl, died along with her two daughters, Saba and Sara Saadat in the plane crash in Iran. Supplied
Newlyweds Arash Pourzarabi, 26, and Pouneh Gorji, 25, were killed after a plane crashed shortly after taking off from the Tehran International Airport in Iran. (Supplied photo/Arash Sabbaghian)
University of Alberta student Nasim Rahmanifar died when a plane operated by Ukraine International Airlines, crashed shortly after takeoff near Shahedshahr, Iran, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020.
Dr. Forough Khadem died when a plane operated by Ukraine International Airlines, crashed shortly after takeoff near Shahedshahr, Iran, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020. Photo courtesy of Mitacs
Mohammad Mahdi Sadeghi, his wife, Bahareh Hajesfandiari, and their daughter, Anisa Sadeghi, died when a plane operated by Ukraine International Airlines, crashed shortly after takeoff near Shahedshahr, Iran, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020.
Delaram Dadashnejad, a student at Langara College in Vancouver, is shown in a handout photo provided by a family friend. Dadashnejad has been confirmed as one of the victims of the Iran plane crash.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Sia Ahmadi
Amir Pasavand who owns Amir Bakery in North Vancouver lost his daughter, 17-year-old Fatemah Pasavand, and his 36-year-old wife, Ayeshe Pourghaderi in the plane crash in Iran.
Sajedeh Saraeian (left), a Western University student, died in a Tehran plane crash.
Saba Saadat died when a Ukraine International Airlines jet crashed shortly after takeoff near Shahedshahr, Iran, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020.
Mansour Pourjam, 53, was a Carleton biology graduate who became a dental technologist. He was killed when a Boeing Co. 737-800 aircraft, operated by Ukraine International Airlines, crashed shortly after takeoff near Shahedshahr, Iran, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020.
Facebook photo of Ali Pey, a Kanata hi-tech entrepreneur who was returning to Ottawa after a trip to visit his ailing father when the Ukraine International Airlines, crashed shortly after takeoff near Shahedshahr, Iran, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020.
Ghazal Nourian, PhD student (Western University/Nanophotonic Energy Materials) CDA IRAN Victims photos
Dr. Parisa Eghbalian died in the Ukraine International Airlines crash in Iran crash along with her daughter Reera Esmaeilion, 9. Photo by eandedentistry.ca
Evin Arsalani and Hiva Molani, of Ajax, were killed along with their young daughter in the Tehran plane crash.
Ajax mom Evin Arsalani cuddles her baby Kurdia in an undated Facebook photo. The pair were killed in the plane crash in Iran.
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To be clear: Iran bears the sole responsibility for this reckless act, which resulted in such horrific consequences. Iran chose to retaliate to the death of Gen. Qassem Soleimani by deliberately targeting two Iraqi airbases on Wednesday night, two hours before UIA Flight 752’s radar signature disappeared from the night sky.
The 22 ballistic missiles Iran fired on Ain al-Asad and Erbil were intended to send a message to the U.S. and its allies. What they did was confirm the U.S. decision to kill the architect of Iran’s destructive and murderous actions across the Middle East – including against Iran’s own citizens – was the right thing to do.
Canada can and should closely align ourselves with the U.K. and others, while bolstering the credibility of the efforts to de-escalate. Iran should be put on notice by multiple powerful NATO founding members. We must immediately list all branches, not just the Quds force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as terrorist entities This would be a clear signal to Iran — as well as to friends like Israel and foes like ISIS — that Canada is prepared to lead alongside its allies in necessary actions against terrorists and those who sponsor them. That we will never back down, whoever they are and wherever they may be.
Canada is at a crossroads in its dealings with the world. The toughest challenges need ever more coordination among strong and principled allies. There is no room for silence, equivocation, uncertainty and wishful thinking. United, we must and will stand up to those who attack, undermine or harm our national interests, our economy, our way of life, and our people.
The world is a complex and dangerous place. This will not change. The only thing that can is Canada’s ability to address its hardest problems in concert with our closest allies. We must act with greater resolve and determination in facing these global threats. We must be prepared and willing to defend our interests, back our allies and support our friends. Decisively and courageously.
Canada has done so in the past and is respected for doing so. It is this courage and resolve that is apparent on the grieving faces of those in mourning. We must wrap our arms around them and support them at this time.
In times of strife and in peace, courage and compassion truly are some of Canada’s greatest strengths.
— Peter MacKay served as Canada’s attorney general and minister of justice
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