The Baha'i International Community expresses its condolences on the passing of Maurice Copithorne, a distinguished Canadian lawyer and diplomat who championed human rights in Iran.

Mr. Copithorne, who passed away at the age of 88 on 14 February 2019, served for decades in the Canadian Foreign Service in Iran, Malaysia and China and was the former UN Special Representative on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran from 1995-2002. In this capacity, he reported bi-annually on a wide rage of human rights violations that were being committed by the government.

"Mr. Copithorne was a staunch defender of human rights in Iran throughout his life," said Diane Ala'i, Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.

"In his numerous roles and reports, he consistently brought to the attention of the Iranian authorities the persecution, discrimination and restrictions imposed on various minorities and groups, including the Iranian Baha’is who are persecuted simply because of their religious beliefs. He was a true champion of human rights in this sense.”

Mr. Copithorne served as a legal advisor to the Department of External Affairs and Canada’s Ambassador to Austria and UN agencies in Vienna among other roles. It was his posting in Iran with the Canadian Foreign Service that had a deep impact on him and inspired him to work on human rights issues related to the country later in his life.

He subsequently left the foreign service aged 55 and worked as associate counsel at a law firm. He also taught international law and ethics at the University of British Columbia and Royal Roads College.

He is survived by two sons and four grandchildren.