LONDON: Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and Britain are to move to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in their effort to make Tehran accountable for the downing of an airplane by Iranian troops in 2020.
Reuters reported that more than 176 people were killed in the incident in in January 2020. The killed passengers were the nationals of Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and Britain, which constituted a coordination group that pursues to make Iran to account, Reuters stated.
Canada, UK, Sweden, Ukraine Take Iran to ICJ over Downed Airplane
Tehran admitted that its forces accidentally shot down the jet and accused a misaligned radar and an error by the air defense operator when tensions were high between the US and Iran.
The four countries group had earlier sought for Tehran to submit to mediation as per the rules of the 1971 Montreal Convention, which needs countries to stop and punish offenses against civil aviation. However, the time limit for a settlement has passed.
Tehran had also filed a complaint against Canada at the United Nations’ top court, blaming Canada of violating global obligations by permitting people to seek damages against Iran. Canada said it was also analyzing Tehran’s application and “will take the suitable next measures as per the ICJ’s procedures.
In 2022, an Ontario court had awarded $81 million, plus interest, to the families of six persons who died when the Iranian forces downed the Ukraine plane in Tehran.
The government of Canada cut diplomatic relations with Iran in 2012 and listed the Tehran as a backer of extremism. Canada also recently imposed sanctions on Tehran over alleged human rights violations and the killing of Mahsa Amini, a lady who died in the custody of Iran’s police.
