Cops: Iran Likely Took Out Regime Critic Living in Canada

Canadian police say an outspoken Iranian activist who disappeared near Vancouver about a month ago is now presumed dead, and investigators believe the case could reflect a broader pattern that has critics of Iran concerned. Authorities in Burnaby announced they are treating the disappearance of 45-year-old mathematician Masood Masjoody as a homicide. However, police have not yet located his body or identified any suspects, according to reporting by The Guardian. Investigators say the evidence collected so far suggests foul play, but they emphasize it is still too early to publicly connect the case to the Iranian government.

Masjoody previously worked as a sessional instructor at Simon Fraser University. He was known for strongly criticizing both Iran’s government and certain opposition groups, and he frequently claimed that Tehran had infiltrated institutions in Canada. In 2020, the university dismissed him after disputes involving grading, accusations of sexual harassment, and social media posts described as misogynistic. After his dismissal, Masjoody filed a series of lawsuits that courts later ruled were abusive and without merit.

Some activists say his disappearance fits into a troubling pattern. Canadian intelligence agencies have previously warned about Iranian interference in the country, and watchdog groups have reported suspected Iranian financial networks operating in major Canadian cities. In 2024, former Canadian justice minister Irwin Cotler said he had survived what he described as an Iranian-backed assassination plot. An activist who knew Masjoody and now lives in the United States said the case is a stark reminder of “the consequences of speaking openly” against Iran.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about Masjoody’s disappearance to contact the homicide tip line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
. Canada’s public broadcaster, CBC, has also reported additional details about the case.

original source