Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Iranian sex offender free man

Immigration officials agree his fears of being killed if deported are valid

WINNIPEG — He's been branded a danger to girls under the age of 18.

But despite the threat convicted sex offender Farid Noedost still poses, he is now allowed to walk free instead of being deported to his native Iran. The decision to release Noedost on parole instead of deporting him came after the Immigration and Refugee Board agreed his fears of being killed in Iran are valid.

But Michael McPhelan of the Immigration and Refugee Board, who ordered Noedost to be released from custody on conditions after a hearing on Thursday, said he wasn't convinced the man will not reoffend.

"I have concerns that you are dangerous to the public in Canada," McPhelan said via video conference from Vancouver to a Winnipeg courtroom.

"The way you have conducted yourself in Canada is despicable. You are a danger to girls under 18."

In agreeing with immigration officials, McPhelan said, "The need to protect the Canadian public is outweighed by the risk you face in your country of origin."

He ordered Noedost to follow his current parole conditions, which include not being around female minors and meeting with a parole officer weekly, and added requirements for him to meet with immigration officials monthly and to notify them if he changes his address or job.

The public is not normally notified of a sex offender's whereabouts while he is on probation, but must rely on probation officials to monitor him.

Noedost shouldn't be able to walk out of prison and have his safety put ahead of the safety of Canadians he'll be living among, provincial justice critic Kelvin Goertzen said in response to the board's decision. "It's disturbing and most people will be disturbed by it."

Goertzen said if immigration officials think there is an imminent threat to Noedost in Iran, he should "at the very least, still be incarcerated," and be deported when the threat no longer exists.

"There is recognition that he still poses a threat to (Canadian) society."

Noedost was sentenced to three years in prison in December 2007 for possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and given a three-year suspended sentence and probation for a sexual assault conviction in April 2008.

Noedost was arrested in 2006 after two girls, aged 16 and 15, said they were abused by the man on three occasions after passing out from drugs and alcohol.

Earlier this week, Noedost was taken into custody by immigration authorities after being released on parole from Stony Mountain Correctional Institution.

Noedost was slated for mandatory deportation because his sentence was a federal term of more than two years.

But Thursday's hearing was held after concerns arose for Noedost's safety in Iran. He has a warrant for his arrest after escaping from Iran years ago and he has become a Christian since incarcerated. Noedost came to Canada years ago as a refugee. Details of his refugee status are protected because of privacy concerns, but he was granted permanent resident status in 2001.

 

-- With files from Matt Preprost

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 3, 2009 A3

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54 Commentscomment icon

Iranian Allen Tehrankeri came to Canada to claim asylum about the same time as Farid Noedost. He was caught robbing an Ottawa bank in 1992 and did time.

Instead of being deported, he was allowed to stay, settling once more in Ottawa. This year he was convicted of raping and killing his Canadian girlfriend's sister, and of trying to hide the evidence by burning the body. He also claims to have converted to 'Christianity'.

Note to the immigration board: economic asylum seekers will join trade unions, banned political parties, or Falun Gong or Christianity in order to establish that "they will be in danger if sent back home".

Stop being naive.

More Iranians in trouble in Canada: Allen Tehrankari and Omid Tahvilli.

There are interesting things happening in Europe. When the state stops protecting its own citizens and protects the criminals instead because of "human rights" or "political correctness" or whatever reason the citizens will find ways to protect themselves. In Copenhagen, residents are turning to local chapters of the Hell's Angels to protect them in their own neighbourhoods because the government and police won't or can't protect them. The Hells's Angels even publicly released a statement where they said as much. Pretty insane but it's happening. I guess things must be pretty bad over there. People are scared and talking about low scale civil wars breaking out over the continent. I'm worried Canada will wind up down the same path in another ten years or so.

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Sooooo, the WFP has a poll stating, "Should Iranian refugee Farid Noedost have been deported following his release from prison?" Now, as I'm typing this, 1201 people voted with 94% saying yes, and 5% saying no. I'm curious to know who those 5% are.

formerwpg, I'm glad that you are that...former.

Until we can GUARANTEE that a person being executed is guilty, the death penalty should not return.

Our justice system is not perfect. As you know, numerous innocent people have been found guilty of murder. If capital punishment is returned to Canada, it is guaranteed that eventually we will murder an innocent person in the name of justice. At that point, all Canadians will be guilty of murder. Do we murder all of us then or just the judge, prosecutor and jury.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on how we justify murdering an innocent person.

ZenJed The death penalty should most definitely be brought back. There are numerous crimes which it should be used for. Instead of us taxpayers paying for these guys to be sheltered in prison, just get rid of them once and for all. If you don't like that idea, then how about charging them a daily rate for every day they are in prison (like some prisons in the US are starting to do). http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0515/p25s10-usgn.html

THAT'S THE LAST, VERY LAST STRAW. I'M MOVING OUT OF THIS CRIMINAL COUNTRY! THE CREEP IS PROBABLY CALLING ALL HIS CRIMINAL BUDDIES OVER SEAS, TELLING THEM TO COME TO CANADA SO THEY CAN LIVE A CRIMINAL LIFE FREE.
...`WHEW... WOW. O.k, on a more calmer note. WE should be all be addressingour concern to the departments of justice, departments of immagration, congress, politicians and amassadors. I believe it is going to take a very LARGE public commitment to make a change and enforce those changes. NO more hiding. No more silence, No more complaining. Lets do something about it.

If he assaults another female, does' he have any better chance of living compared to what he has in his own country? He should fear mob justice, or prison justice if he goes back to prison.

While it may make you feel better to vent to the Immigration board, that's not the right target. They followed the rules properly. We do NOT deport someone if it is highly likely that they would be harmed or killed.

Take it up with the MP's and the PM. They're the ones who make the laws.


Hold on now, the Imigration board is deporting a man in Vancouver because he came clean when he came to Canada and said he was Ex KGB, I would say the only thing he would report back to Russia is how good life is in Canada and he is a law abiding resident. But this other jerk will surly commit another crime then what will the board say to the woman he attacks grin and bare it because he would have been procsecuted in Iraq. This Gov, in Ottawa had better get there act in gear.

Thank you for the contact info for the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. I will voice my opinion directly to them.

May I suggest all those ranting and raving here do the same.

Here it is again:

Email: info@irb-cisr.gc.ca

Headquarters:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Minto Place, Canada Building
344 Slater Street, 12th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0K1

Tel.: 613-995-6486
Fax: 613-943-1550

No matter how difficult it is to swallow or how disgusted the majority of the posters here are, the immigration board MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. He served his sentence and should be released. His sentence was not "serve x-amount of time in jail and then be killed."

I wish he could be deported back to Iran, but since he would likely be killed there, letting him remain in Canada is the right thing to do. Canadians need to continue to take the "high road" and lead by example. The death penalty should not and will not return to Canada.

Now having said that, I do believe that his (and other sex offender's) sentences are too lenient. It is definitely a problem when numerous sex offenders are being released and are considered likely to re-offend.

It's time for the federal government to come up with better solutions for dealing with sex offenders.

We should be investigating what other CIVILIZED countries are doing to deal with sex offenders.

I'd also be interested in hearing some real solutions from experts in the field as opposed to the usual "kill him or castrate him" reactions from the general public. (Of course I completely understand where that sentiment comes from.)

My suggestion for all of you who are irate about this situation...Don't vent at the immigration board...Lobby the MP's and Prime Minister to toughen the sentences and look for ways to actually rehabilitate these criminals.

If they truly can't be rehabilitated, then we need to find a way to deal with them and protect innocent Canadians at the same time, WITHOUT sacrificing our justice system.

Vigilantism or calling for his head makes you no better than him. Re-direct your anger and frustration and become part of the solution and not a different problem.

Watchingout Most crimes (no matter the nature) are commited by Canadian citizens because they are the vast majority of the population. You would need to come up with a per capita ratio for that comment to have any validity.

Its always news when a sex offender considered a danger is released into the population. He was feeding children drugs and alcohol until they passed out and then raping them. [Edited] I'm sure he's become just a marvellous little Christian. You can wonder about that if you like.

Your idea of the value of citizenship is a little off. Of course there is no need to earn it if you are born there. Should the babies have to perform little history quizzes before being granted there birthright? [Edited]

This is so disgusting. I have never been more embarrassed to be a Canadian--and I have been embarrassed for years!! I am so ashamed of Canada, it is nothing but a haven for criminals. The justice system is an absolute joke. Most of us want the death penalty and much harsher penalties for crimes--but does it happen? No, all the ruling bleeding hearts won't let it happen. What can be done about it? Nothing! We the people are powerless. The idiot government that gets voted in continue along the same path, no matter which party gets in--they are all the same. And don't tell me that if I don't like it here then move--I have tried for over 6 years to move to the US and without a job offer and a willingness to sponsor, it is next to impossible. We have a place in Arizona where I spend as much time as I can, but would sure love to live there permanently. At least in the States criminals get punished for their deeds and deported if necessary. Shame, shame on Canada! Canada is becoming the laughing stock of the world and an open door for criminals.

@watchingout

First: You are missing the point of the posters. We are disgusted that a criminal, Canadian citizen or Non Canadian Citizen is allowed to be out on the streets and is most likely to re offend. In this case a non citizen. Some of us just think he should be sent away to his homeland. Canadian Citizens should not have to be put in harms way.

Second: We know that our Government is not going to deport because the dirty criminal will be dealt his just deserts. We just think that is what he deserves.

Third: Just wait until he does it again, perhaps it will be someone you know, then at that time come back and read these posts. See how you really feel.

Fourth: It is you that finds in our posts something to crank about.

If letting child rapists back on the street is something you do not find disturbing and warrants public outrage. I find that disturbing in itself.

It's great how you all took the bait that the WFP dangled so obviously on the front page of the website.

Get angry, people! Get so angry that you almost consider getting up off your butts and doing something about it!

Almost.

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Only in canada do we let a loser like this stay. he should be kicked out and have no chance to be able to commit any other crimes here. To bad if he would have been killed if he returned to his country. So we give him more opportunity to live his life as a criminal in canada. I say throw him tthe hell right out of canada.

Farid Noedost's biggest mistake was failing to pony up a couple of hundred dollars and filing a bit of paperwork back in 2004. If he had, he'd have been a Canadian citizen at the time of his crime, and all the yahoos below (except GreatFlatLand) would have to find something else to crank on about this morning.

This is only news because he was subject to the Immigration board (which is not a criminal court, people). The real courts did in fact convict and sentence him (though one must wonder about the suspended sentence for the sex crime; perhaps it wasn't what you think).

Now, since most sex crimes are committed by Canadian citizens, who like most of you, only enjoy such privileges through accident of birth (did you think you "earned" your citizenship by being born? Oh, big achievement!), and nearly all sex crimes are committed by acquaintances (actually husbands/partners/boyfriends), maybe this story is utterly insignificant, and you should all take a pill and save your energy for something important.

Here is how you can contact the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Why not let them know what we think:

Email: info@irb-cisr.gc.ca

Headquarters:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Minto Place, Canada Building
344 Slater Street, 12th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0K1

Tel.: 613-995-6486
Fax: 613-943-1550

" Immigration officials agree his fears of being killed if deported are valid "

I would like to think that all Canadian citizens agree if he is allowed to stay in Canada he should fear the same.

Get rid of him before we hear another terrible story about a child that falls victim. We have no use for filth like that.

I mean really, .... what the F is going on ??? This is the second story in a row that shows more pity toward the criminal than the victim.

Time to start a new group to lobby for leadership in this country. One group who is truly speaking for the common people who in fact are the common people. A simple slogan.

Know Right From Wrong.

How hard is it?

Tough not to vent when we read about saving the criminals, and punishing the victims. Truly. Where do we go from here?


typical canadian response to this. lets be the bleeding heart and keep this person. ship him back and let the iranians deal with him the way he should be. this is outrageous yet again.

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Ok, so he's released into the Canadian public...again. Why not post his picture in the paper and news to let people know who to lookout for? Or is that even too much to ask for public safety?

I would like to hear what Pat Martin has to say about this.

Violent sexual crimes against girls and women mean nothing to our justice system. Could the courst be any more useless? REally whats the point? It disgusts me that this 'justice' is rationalized and that this man is free to eat dinner at a table next to me. Get him out of Winnipeg and out of Canada. He IS NOT WELCOME. [Edited]

I am deeply ashamed at our justice department.... It´s bad enough that sex offenders born and raised in Canada are allowed to roam the streets freely, but to allow someone this dispicable to stay in Canada, puting OUR daughters at risk so that he can go unharmed??!! That´s not humanitarian that´s ludicrous... I want to know if the people that decided to let him stay in Canada have young daughters, and if they would like him to live in their neighbourhood, because I sure as hell do not want him living in my neighbourhood or anywhere near my daughter....

Just to play devil's advocate here, but we don't have the death penalty in Canada because we as Canadians subscribe to a moral code that disctates that we do not take a life as consequence for ones' crimes. I think the issue here is that deporting this individual would essentially be sentencing him to a death sentence in his home country which goes against the ethics that we as Canadians subscribe to. Just to inject a different side to the story. The judges aren't just being lenient they have ethics and morals to consider. Should this individual serve his time, yes, but we also have a policy as Canadians that we do not deport people if it means that they would meet certain death in their home country.

If we as Canadians subscirbe to a different moral code than that reflected in this verdict then that should be reflected in the people we elect to represent us and they should change our deportation laws accordingly. Somehow I doubt even the Conservatives will marry themselves to a deport above all else policy.

The law is to protect the criminals, honest hard working citizens are a dime a dozen.

Unreal!! I would love to see a rally happen to get this freak out of OUR country. I really don't care what happens to him when he goes back to his own country , but I do care about the safety of my 15 year old daughter and her friends. What is wrong with Canada? We just accept anything into our country now? He HAS to go!! So not proud to be Canadian..this makes us look like fools!

All of Canada day I was thinking, why celebrate my country when it caters to all criminals and does not care about its LAW ABIDING citizens?
It's about time our government did something for the tax payers and "take out the garbage"!
I am disgusted that this KEEPS happening.
Maybe if our judges become victims themselves, this would change.
ALL judges in this country, and to any other law maker or enforcer, you are just as disgusting as the criminals that you see everyday (usually the same ones).

I suggest that if he wants to stay in Canada, he agrees to be castrated. Otherwise send him back to Iran to face his fate.

Perhaps this criminal is in danger in Iran.....because they too see him as a threat to Iran's children?

If Iran doesn't want him....why should Canada?

i am not saying that being executed for his crimes is right, but since when is canada resposibility for how the iranian government treats its criminals? it is arrogance to think we can do this.

This is just another example of injustice in a completely flawed system. Not only is this decision ridiculous, it completely undermines everyone's faith in our government to protect the innocent. Since when does the safety of one outweigh the safety of others?

Ya guys I do agree, he should be deported, but that wont fix the real problem. It seems like they release a sex offender weekly, and most of the time they say they are dangerous.

This one may be from Iran, but most are Canadians. There is no way a dangerous sex offender should be released regardless of where they're from.. unless they're castrated after serving more than 15 years in prison.

Madoff gets 150 years, and sex offenders get a slap on the wrist.

Okay I just don't get this country. This guy drugs and rapes young women, everyone fears he'll do it again, but we'll just release him anyway instead of sending him to where he belongs, OUT OF OUR COUNTRY. Why is it the criminals in this country have rights that supersede the rest of society?

This clown McPhelan who releases this guy, but says he thinks he'll reoffend, then goes on to state we need to protect the Canadian people over this guys rights to protection from his own country...WHAT ARE YOU SAYING...this guy has more waffles than a Denny's Restaurant!!! Why release him then? This country needs some people who will actually DO something for the betterment of society, instead of chest pounding do nothings who like to talk to hear their own voice.

Spare his life? while he goes around & Destroys the lives of our Young Citizens?? Have our 'Leaders' gone stark raving Mad?
I agree with Pressreader:
Shame on you Canada, fo rnot protecting your citizens!!!

This just isn't smart...if he is an offender, he needs to be dealt with as he is one, its unfortunate he has troubles in his home country but certainly he should have thought about that before he started drugging teen girls, I don't think any exception should be made in a case such as this!

He should be gone now and he can take the boards along to protect him over there. This stinks !!!!!!

How can this be true?? I refuse to believe that my country will be more concerned about the rights of a criminal above the rights of innocent citizens of Canada...Wow. This is more than disgusting. I agree with Pressreader - shame on you Canada.

Typical of Canada's immigration laws. Keep the criminals and deport the honest, hardworking young families.....Absolutely disgusting!! How many of these families have had to take refuge in a church across Canada?? Some of them for a year or more.
How can we "dump the fruit basket" that is our Immigration Offices and get some clear headed, sensible people in there???

Oh boo hoo so his life is in danger if he gets sent back. What about the danger to the lives of all the innocent (all the bleeding hearts look up innocent in the dictionary if you don't get this) women out there. Did he care that the women he was attacking were worried that they would die? Probably not. Now that this creep is out and living freely among us what will you say after the next attack? Oops! A lot of good that will do. When will the individual start paying for what they have done instead of offering excuses, reasons why and blaming everyone else for their actions.
If anyone deserves to live in fear its the perpetrator not innocent victims.

Have the Politicians and Judicial system completely lost their moral compass? I am appalled with the decision to allow this convicted sex offender permission to stay in Canada! If our system was working properly, he would be on the next plane out!
I am further concerned that he will re-offend, and perhaps with more violence next time. Who will take responsibility for that when it happens?
Our concern for the safety and well being of Canadians should far out weigh any worry over the threat to his safety if deported. When he committed that violent crime, he cared not for the safety or well being of his victim ..... we should take the same approach with him!

This is outrageous!

How, as a public, are we suppose to feel safe in OUR CITY, with gov't officials allowing predators back on OUR STREETS!
How would these officials like this man living on their block, with their teenage daughter walking to school every morning past this animal's house? Do they not think that he would predictably use them as his PREY?

I don't want this animal here in MY CITY. (period)
He is not a CITIZEN of Canada, he is a criminal and a predator which will definitely reoffend. I'm disgusted with what has been going on in Winnipeg in the last while.

We've gone from a beheader, whom will never be criminally charged for savagely killing Tim Mclean, to a charged sex offender, whom is walking free in OUR CITY.

When are we, AS CITIZENS, allowed to reclaim OUR CITY. Why don't we have a voice??? I have lived here all my life, along with four other generations before me - I'm completely sickened by the uncaring attitude of the GOV'T officials whom repeatedly let us be the VICTIMS, over and over again.

Something has to be done. We need to stand together and say "NAY" to the way OUR CITY is being run.

Mayor Kates, Stephen Harper, WHERE ARE YOU WHEN YOUR CANADIAN CITIZENS need you??? I'm fed up with Canadian Laws and the gov'ts caring attitude toward sexual offenders and digusting beheaders. What about the taxpaying law-abiding CITIZENS of CANADA! Think about it.........and do something about it!

It is very troubling to see the safety of a convicted sex offender placed ahead of Canadian citizens. He can be put on conditions to not have contact with female minors, but at the end of the day if he chooses to act again, he will. No one is watching him 24/7. Send him home!

w hen is someone in this country going to stand up for canadains probably never.what whimps

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It's things like this that stop me putting up the flag on Canada Day.

Wow, maybe if our justice system was a little more harsh he wouldnt have committed any crimes over here in the first place.This pretty much just sends a open invitation to all middle east sex offenders to " come on over to Canada and take advantage of our kids ". We will not send you back to your country where you would be publicly killed for such an offence, we will keep you here and the tax payers can supply you with 3 meals a day and a place to sleep then we will let you loose into the public so you can do it again.
This guys @ss should have been sent back to Iran as soon as he was found guilty.

This concerns me a great deal. How much is this costing the Canadian Tax payers for this sex offender. He should go back. What happens to him happens to him. This sends a very wrong message to all other offenders. Canada now becomes a haven for sexual preditors around the globe. I would like to know the names of the member of the Immigration and Refugee Board they must be held accountable for thier actions here. Any offense that he conducts will be on thier heads and I would sue them for thier actions. They put Canadians at risk. This is totally sick.

Who else thinks he should be deported? He should have thought about the consequences before committing sexual assault. Why should Canada harbour criminals who are intent on harming our young girls?????????????????????

This is absolutely disgusting. This coward has chosen to be a criminal in his own country, and had to flee to this one. Of course Canada welcomes this lowlife with open arms,then not having learned anything from his first experience, he chooses to to re-offend in the country that has offered him a second chance. Are we going to wait for him to kill someone here. He is already a repeat offender. This lowlife predator must be deported. This is the path he has chosen and he must now deal with the consequences of his actions. Is that not what we are to teach our own children? He is just laughing at this right now and telling all his lowlife counterparts to come to Canada and do what you want with no repercussions.

what a joke, who made this decision? FIRE THAT PERSON RIGHT NOW!
I can see where my taxpayer money is going. WHAT A JOKE. "i can see you are a danger to girls 18 and younger" ?????? why is this "human being" being allowed to stay here? MY GOD i pray that nothing bad comes from this person or there will be a backlash from the public like yo have never seen before.

This just disgusts me.
Since when does the safety of a criminal out weigh the safety of Canadians? Especially, young females.
I think we should all start a group and get this idiot out of our country!

fathers, lock up your daughters. well, at least for the 6 days a week that no one is checking up on this creep. this is truly insane. i guess there's not enough honest, hard working immigrants to bring into the country anymore.

Shame on you Canada, for not protecting your citizens!

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