A professor of British Columbia stuck in Iran said that the authorities told him that the Canadian government could “almost nothing” do to help him and his family.
Simon Jannesar, professor of engineering at Simon Fraser University, said in an email that communications are extremely limited and that the Canadian authorities do not seem to have a plan to manage the situation.
The wife and two young children of Mr. Jannesar had gone to Iran before the Israeli strikes against the country. He explained to his students that at the start of the conflict, he had no choice but to join them.
The United States has joined the conflict at the end of the week by bombing Iranian nuclear sites. The airspace being now closed, the family has no way to go out.
In an email sent to the Canadian press at 3:45 a.m. on Sunday, on Sunday, for a brief period of access to the Internet, the professor said that communications are extremely limited and that it is impossible to receive calls from outside the country.
Mr. Jannesar said he managed to call an emergency line from the Canadian government, but after hours of discussion, he was first asked to fill out an online form, despite the absence of internet connection.
“Finally, an agent was kind enough to do it by phone. But after many exchanges, they told me that they could have practically nothing, ”testified Mr. Jannesar.
“To my question:” What service do you offer exactly on this emergency line? “, Their answer was the type:” We answer your questions! And calls! And if you were not Canadian, we did not answer your questions! ” “, He added.
A student from Mr. Jannesar shared a message from him last week, describing the teacher’s situation on an online forum before the American attack.
In this message addressed to his class, the professor said that he was still trying to broadcast recorded courses despite the war.
“As you can probably hear it in the recording of my ninth lesson, it is literally as an area of war with explosions that occur from time to time,” he wrote, asking his students to help him know his situation.
A spokesperson for Simon Fraser University confirmed that one of his teachers was stuck in Iran, but said that he could not provide the recording of the session described by Mr. Jannesar, the access being limited to the students.
In his email, Simon Jannesar said that the Canadian officials with whom he spoke were “friendly and respectful” and that he did not want to be “hard” towards them.
“But there is actually no management plan behind all of this and what they offer is not clear. Their emails do not even specify what they are doing or can do, ”he said.
Mr. Janesar said the Internet was cut for several days before a brief period of access.
The university said that a second member of the staff who was in Iran had managed to go to Türkiye.
“We monitor the situation closely, and the security and well-being of the members of the community of [l’Université Simon Fraser] We remain our absolute priority, “said a spokesperson.
He added that “the possibilities of leaving the region are extremely limited” and that the Blocked Professor had been encouraged to contact the International University Health and Security Service Supplier and the Canada Emergency Supervision and Intervention Center to obtain consular assistance.
While Iranian airspace is closed, land passing points to Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan are possible options for Canadians who try to leave Iran, according to Global Affairs Canada.
It is advisable to Canadians in Israel, in the Gaza Strip, in the West Bank and Iran to “stay near an anti-bomb shelter or be ready to take shelter in a solidified structure, far from the windows”, can be read on a Canada worldwide web page.
