A new screening of a film about the Iranian regime’s quest for nuclear weapons has been booked at the federal government’s Library and Archives building after a previous showing was cancelled upon threats of protests and a complaint from Tehran’s embassy in Ottawa.
Library and Archives Canada called off a planned Jan. 18 screening of Iranium but the institution was later upbraided by Conservative Heritage Minister James Moore for doing so.
“The Iranian Embassy will not dictate to the Government of Canada which films will or will not be shown in Canada,” Mr. Moore said via his Twitter account. “I am disappointed that Library & Archives Canada chose not to show the film ... due to threats of violence.”
The Free Thinking Film Society, behind the movie’s screening, announced the new showing will take place at Library and Archives on Sunday, Feb. 6.
Iranium, a 60-minute documentary chronicles Iran’s progress in building nuclear weapons and its use of terror to advance its aims. The movie details the regime’s brutal treatment of its citizens and sketches out the implications of Iran finally assembling a nuclear bomb.
“I applaud the Minister of ... Heritage, James Moore, for his determination in standing up for freedom of speech – but it should never have had to go to his office,” Fred Litwin of the Free Thinking Film Society said.
Library & Archives Canada has denied the complaint from the Iranian embassy had anything to do with its original cancellation, saying that decision was taken only after threats of violence in emails and letters.
But Mr. Litwin said in a release Friday that Library & Archives had tried to cancel the first screening on Jan. 17 following a complaints and offered to move the showing to the Museum of Nature at a cost. He said he had refused to do this.