Mahnaz Samadi

Mahnaz Samadi is an Iranian dissident and human rights activist,^[1] who was previously a member in the Iranian Mujahideen-e Khalq.^[2][3]

In 1982, she was accused of leading a terrorist attack against the Iranian government on behalf of the MEK.^[3]

In 1993, she traveled to Canada and replaced Robab Farahi-Mahdavieh as the leader of North American operations of the MEK's civilian front.^[3]

She was arrested in Ottawa in 1999,^[2] and in 2000 faced an American immigration board after she applied for political asylum.^[1]

However, John Ashcroft, serving in his then-capacity as Senator of Missouri wrote a May 10 plea for lenience in her hearing to Attorney General Janet Reno, arguing that Samadi was a "highly regarded human-rights activist".^[4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Washington Times, Iranian fears death after US expulsion, July 7, 2000
2. ^ ^{a b} Bell, Stewart. National Post, "Guerrillas claim links to Canada", July 19, 2004
3. ^ ^{a b c} Martin, Gus. "The New Era of Terrorism", p. 94
4. ^ Isikoff, Michael. Newsweek, "Ashcroft's Baghdad Connection", September 26, 2002