Canadian Court Rejects Iranian Citizen's Request to Prevent Extradition to the U.S.

A judge of the British Columbia Supreme Court in Canada rejected an Iranian citizen's request to prevent extradition to the U.S. for trial on charges of fraud and money laundering. According to the Vancouver Sun, Aboud Sari was arrested at the airport when he arrived in Vancouver in 2019 to celebrate his birthday with his two children who were studying at the University of British Columbia. This Iranian citizen was detained by the Canada Border Services Agency because he was a key employee of Mahan Air, an Iranian airline that has been sanctioned under Canadian anti-terrorism laws. The agency stated that hours after Sari's arrest, they learned that he was wanted in the U.S. on charges of fraud and money laundering. During the court session, the federal immigration minister extended his detention to determine whether his entry into Canada was acceptable given these charges. He is currently free on bail and under security measures including an electronic ankle monitor. The judge acknowledged that there were concerns regarding Sari's consular rights, the manner and duration of his temporary detention, and other details, but stated that these violations were not serious enough to halt his extradition process. Sari's lawyers argued in court that he was deprived of his right to access the Islamic Republic's embassy as an Iranian citizen after his arrest. The judge, while accepting this argument and noting these issues, stated that they do not impede the extradition process.