McGill investigating tweet by instructor who allegedly promoted violence against Iranian protesters
McGill University says it is investigating one of its instructors who allegedly called for the death of people participating in anti-government protests in the streets of Iran in recent weeks.
Members inside and outside the McGill community are accusing the staff member, Soroosh Shahriari, of promoting hate speech and inciting violence. They also say the university is acting too slowly in holding him accountable and plan to hold a protest on campus Thursday evening.
A post from his Twitter account, which has since been deleted, said how "sweet" and "heartwarming" it would be to see the leaders of the protests killed.
Shahriari is an instructor in the Jewish studies program for the fall 2022 semester, according to McGill's website.
On Sept. 22, a post from his Twitter account appeared to comment on the recent uprising in Tehran after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody after being arrested by Iran's "morality police."
She was arrested after being targeted by authorities because her headscarf was allegedly too loose, in violation of an enforced dress code for women in Iran.
Since her death, protesters have taken to the streets, many of them women who have boldly removed their hijabs as they call for the removal of Iranian leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Since Amini's funeral on Sept. 17, protests have spread to more than 80 cities in Iran and Amnesty International estimates at least 52 people have been killed by security forces between Sept. 19 and 25.
"How good and heartwarming it will be to experience the execution of hundreds of Mojahedin leaders arrested in the recent riots. Oh Good, it is sweet!" reads the controversial tweet from Shahriari's account.
CTV News reached out to Shahriari via email and he declined to comment publicly.
Along with his Twitter account, his Facebook and LinkedIn accounts also appear to have been deleted.
An online petition that has collected more than 23,000 signatures calls on McGill to investigate the matter and to enforce the university's policies.
"The particular tweet praises execution and may incite violence against protestors. In our view, and given the context summarized above, the “Mojahedin leaders arrested” in this tweet can only be interpreted as a reference to Iranian protesters or a group of protesters whom the tweet author speculates to be members of [People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran]," the petition reads.
"The statement was felt by us to be a veiled threat to the safety of any individual, including McGill students, who support freedom-seeking protestors in Iran or may share political beliefs that are targeted by this tweet."
When asked if Shahriari is still an instructor, McGill said it could not comment due to privacy laws.
The university wrote that it is balancing the heightened concern over the "shocking posts" on social media with the instructor's freedom of expression.
"We continue to look into the matter very closely and we have reached out directly to Iranian students at McGill to offer support at this difficult time. We have also encouraged all students, whether Iranian or not, who require support to seek out the resources available at McGill," a spokesperson wrote in an email.
"As we have reminded our community, it is crucial for all of us to remember the importance of procedural fairness and to take into account the wide protection offered to free expression in our society, even when such expression is distasteful or disturbing."
In the meantime, a poster with the title "Freedom of repression" was circulating on social media promoting a "sit-in" at McGill from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday.
- Listen on CJAD 800: Protests around the globe are calling into question the Iranian regime
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Tesla recalling nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks because accelerator pedal can get stuck
Tesla is recalling 3,878 of its 2024 Cybertrucks after it discovered that the accelerator pedal can become stuck, potentially causing the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally and increase the risk of a crash.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.