Fugitive father accused of abducting his 4 children ends silence
Saren Azer has been wanted by Canadian police since he failed to return with his children last summer
The Vancouver Island man wanted by Canadian police for allegedly abducting his four children and taking them to the Middle East appears to have posted a note on social media about the children.
Saren Azer's name is signed at the bottom of the note, which claims he and the children — 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.
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A Canada-wide warrant was issued for Azer last August after he failed to bring his four children home to his ex-wife in Comox following a European trip.
The four children are listed as missing on Interpol's website.
The nearly thousand word post makes claims about the children's well-being, stating that they had various physical, emotional, or developmental issues around the time that Azer became estranged from his ex-wife, Alison Azer in 2012.
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 a well-known Canadian doctor of Iranian descent who has spoken publicly about volunteering medical care for refugees in Iraq and humanitarian aid to Syria.
Azer and the children may 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, Azer was "told by an Iranian security officer that we should be careful," suggesting that he may now 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 been met with vitriolic comments.
"I will celebrate the day that you are arrested and jailed. Cruel monster," wrote a user named Patty McNamara.
"Your mother misses you and wants you home. There are pictures 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.
Investigation ongoing
RCMP E Division spokeswoman Cpl. Janelle Shoihet wouldn't comment on the new Facebook post on 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 Azer has twice travelled to Iraq, believing that's where her ex-husband took the children.
In a written statement, she said she was aware of the 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.