The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.

Prime Minister of Canada

Langevin Block

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0A2

March 28, 2019

Dear Prime Minister,

As has been widely reported, on the occasion of the 2019 International Women’s Day, French President Emmanuel Macron publicly invited imprisoned Iranian lawyer Ms. Nasrin Sotoudeh to be part the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council, a body created by Canada last year at your recommendation. We are writing to you to request that Canada demonstrate its international leadership in protecting women and human rights defenders by publicly endorsing President Macron’s invitation. We further request that Canada invite Ms. Sotoudeh to serve on one or more institutions of similar international standing.

Ms. Sotoudeh has been an inspiring figure for millions of women and men around the globe, including many in Canada. Because of her advocacy for human rights and women’s rights, and because she has been tireless in providing legal assistance to political prisoners in Iran, Ms. Sotoudeh has spent many years in jail. Just weeks ago, in a new trial deemed unfair by Amnesty International, Sotoudeh was reported to have been sentenced to 38 years in prison and 148 lashes. This unfair sentence has generated outrage and disbelief among all democratic nations.

An endorsement of the French initiative, and another public invitation to Ms. Sotoudeh from the Canadian Prime Minister which acknowledges her heroic sacrifices and condemns her unjust imprisonment would send a strong message of solidarity on behalf of all Canadians. It would also put the Iranian government on notice that the world will not forget about Ms. Sotoudeh. In addition, such an action would acknowledge the efforts of those who risk their lives to demand basic and universal human rights and women’s rights across the globe. Finally, given that Ms. Sotoudeh’s activism is globally known, and given that her name is frequently mentioned as a potential recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Canada’s leadership on this issue would be widely recognized and applauded by human rights defenders across the world.

We are certain that such endorsement of President Macron’s action, and an invitation to Nasrin Sotoudeh to serve on another institution of similar nature, will have the support of all Canadians and parliamentarians of all political stripes.

We thank you in advance.

Yours Sincerely,