A Vancouver Island doctor accused of illegally abducting his four children from his ex-wife and taking them to Iran is fighting back on social media.
A Facebook group called “
has emerged that appeared to have been created by Saren Azer.
He is the ex-husband of Alison Azer, who has been fighting for her children’s return since they left on a vacation with their father in August and never returned.
The Facebook page shows photos and videos of the four children -- Sharvahn, 11, Rojevan, 9, and Dersim, 7, and Meitan, 3 – along with their father and relatives.
Saren Azer, also known as Salahaddin Mahmudi-Azer, is the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by
, which notes he is wanted in Canada to face abduction charges.
Since her children’s disappearance, Alison Azer has been engaged in a
calling on diplomatic officials and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reach out to the president of Iran to intervene and have her children returned to Canada.
Until now, Saren Azer, previously a prominent doctor in Comox Valley, B.C, has remained silent. But on the Facebook page, a man claiming to be Saren writes a long post and says the children are “well, safe and happy at last.”
He writes: “For the first time since 2012, when that campaign of terror and madness was unleashed on our lives, we have found peace and we are happy.” It’s not clear what he means by “campaign of terror.”
His post goes on to claim his kids had been suffering for several years with various physical and mental health issues that all resolved when they were brought from Canada to the Middle East.
Saren also details his own suffering in the post, saying he thought he would not survive the “nightmare” he endured in the three years before he left.
“But by the grace of the God I did, and I think my children were the main reason that I stayed alive,” he said.
Saren makes no mention of his ex-wife or the abduction charges he’s facing. But he says he believes he is being followed by a “member of a private army” who he says might be dangerous.
“We were told that he is Australian and has many years of army training. Supposedly, he has been a part of different mercenary armies for a number of years,” he writes.
“While at first I was a bit worried, then I reminded myself that regardless of what happens to me, my children will be cared for by those who love them and celebrate them most, ‘their family.’ ”
He then signs off saying he hopes “to be able to write to you again.”
After learning about the Facebook page, Alison Azer issued a statement to media outlets saying the posts were a “desperate attempt to distract and confuse family friends and supporters here in Canada.”
She also vowed she would return to Ottawa next week to keep putting pressure on the government to act.
"Over 3,200 Canadians have signed the petition we launched earlier this week calling on Prime Minister Trudeau to #MakeTheCall to the Iranian President to bring my kids home," she said. "The federal government can and must do more."
Supporters of Alison Azer have been commenting on the posts, calling on Saren to return the children.
“You will be found and you will be punished,” wrote Stephanie Dalton.
“Love does NOT equal kidnapping and taking to a dangerous war torn country. Unreal…” wrote Trina Hennicke.
Others who claim to know Saren have also commented, leaving messages of support for the children, saying the children appear happy and healthy.
