Home | WebMail | Register or Login

      Calgary | Regions | Local Traffic Report | Advertise on Action News | Contact

Login

Login

Please fill in your credentials to login.

Don't have an account? Register Sign up now.

British Columbia

Fugitive father accused of abducting his 4 children ends silence

The man accused of abducting his four children and moving them to the Middle East has posted a note to Facebook claiming he and the children "have found peace."

Saren Azer has been wanted by Canadian police since he failed to return with his children last summer

A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for Saren Azer, also known as Salahaddin Mahmudi-Azer, after he failed to return with his four children from a trip to Germany. (HPIC/Facebook)

The Vancouver Island man wanted by Canadian police for allegedly abducting his four children and taking them tothe Middle East appears to haveposted a note on social media about the children.

Saren Azer's name is signed at the bottom of the note, which claims he and thechildren daughters Rojevahn, 9, and Sharvahn, 11, and sons Meitan, 3, and Dersim, 7 are "well, safe and happy at last."

"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," the note reads.

A Canada-wide warrant was issued for Azer last August after hefailed to bring his four children home to his ex-wife in Comox following a European trip.

The fourchildren are listed as missing on Interpol's website.

The nearly thousand word post makes claims about the children's well-being, stating that theyhad various physical, emotional, or developmental issues around the time that Azer became estranged from his ex-wife, Alison Azer in 2012.

A photo posted to Facebook appears to show Saren Azer and his four children. "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," reads a note from Azer. (Facebook)

Saren Azer claims the children are all recovered from the issues he outlines in the note.

In one case he writes, "Now, she is really well, perfectly healthy, young, wise and beautiful. Like her sister she is into Kurdish cloth, dances and music and not so eager in helping out in [household] chores."

Azer, an ethnic Kurd also known as Salahaddin Mahmudi-Azer, is awell-known Canadian doctor of Iranian descent who has spoken publicly about volunteering medical care for refugees in Iraq and humanitarian aid to Syria.

Azerand the childrenmay be in Iran

His post on Facebook doesn't say exactly where he has settled with the children, but it reveals that he is surrounded by family.

"He is adored and loved by so many of his uncles, aunties, cousins and friends," the note says of one son.

According to the note, Azerwas "told by an Iranian security officer that we should be careful," suggestingthat he maynow be living in Iran.

"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 the most, 'their family'", wrote Azer.

The post on Facebook, as well as others on a page titled "Azer children" has beenmet with vitriolic comments.

"I will celebrate the day that you are arrested and jailed. Cruel monster," wrotea user named Patty McNamara.

"Your mother misses you and wants you home.There arepictures of her crying and her heart is breaking," wrote VS Spurrill.

Other comments devolve into threats and conflict between people outraged at Azer and those jumping in to defend him.

Alison Azer, holds Meitan as her other children Sharvahn, left to right, Dersim and Rojevahn pose for a photo. "'I'm concerned for their safety. I'm concerned they won't survive," said Alison Azer in February. (Alison Azer/The Canadian Press)

Investigation ongoing

RCMPE Divisionspokeswoman Cpl.Janelle Shoihetwouldn'tcomment on the new Facebook poston Thursday, saying the investigation is ongoing.

"The Azer file is active and ongoing and it continues to be a priority investigation," said Shoihet. "All efforts are being made to bring the children home and we continue to work with our partners domestically and internationally in order to ensure the family is reunited."

Alison Azerhas twice travelled to Iraq, believing that's where her ex-husband took the children.

In a written statement, she said she was aware ofthe Facebook account"claiming to be Saren,an international fugitive wanted on four counts of child abduction charges."

"This desperate attempt to distract and confuse family friends and supporters here in Canada will not break our spirit or determination to see my kids safely returned to Canada," she said.