Crime and National Security

Canadian authorities have charged two people with first‑degree murder in the killing of Masood Masjoody, a 45‑year‑old Iranian activist who opposed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and served on the board of the Iran Front for the Revival of Law and National Sovereignty. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said Masjoody’s remains were found about a week ago near Mission, British Columbia, after neighbors in Burnaby reported him missing in early February, and that suspects Mehdi Ahmadzadeh Razavi, 48, of Maple Ridge, and Arezou Soltani, 45, of North Vancouver were arrested and charged on Saturday. Investigators called the case a “targeted incident” and said the victim and accused knew each other and had ongoing disputes and exchanges on social media, though they have not yet identified a motive and stressed both suspects lack Canadian criminal records. Masjoody was known in exile circles for criticizing IRGC influence networks in host countries and had filed multiple lawsuits, including against his former employer Simon Fraser University, the social media platform X, and Reza Pahlavi, the U.S.-based son of Iran’s last shah, some of which judges labeled vexatious. The case will resonate beyond Canada because it comes amid increased concern in North America and Europe about threats, intimidation and possible violence against Iranian dissidents living abroad, something U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies are also monitoring closely.