Senior Iranian official loses attempt to ban public from deportation hearing

Abbas Omidi is one of 28 ‘senior officials’ of Iran’s regime immigration officers have found in Canada.

An alleged senior member of the Iranian regime who has been living in Canada has lost his attempt to ban the public from his deportation hearing.

In a ruling handed down in Toronto on Tuesday, the Immigration and Refugee Board denied Abbas Omidi’s request for closed-door proceedings.

The decision said that “hiding Mr. Omidi’s identity would have a strong deleterious/negative effect on the public’s interest in the open court process.”

Global News reported on Omidi’s case last month but was not permitted to name him because of a publication ban imposed by the Refugee Board.

However, Global News fought the decision, and the Refugee Board has now reversed the restrictions in a ruling that said Omidi had not shown he would face any danger.

“I am unable to find sufficient credible evidence that establishes Mr. Omidi and his family face a real and substantial risk of harm if Mr. Omidi’s identity is disclosed in media reporting,” the decision said.

“I do not find Mr. Omidi’s application satisfies the requirement that the openness of the proceedings poses a serious risk to an important public interest.”

Omidi is one of 28 suspected high-level officials of Iran’s repressive government who have been caught during an immigration crackdown that began in 2022.