Trudeau defends minister Monsef over Iranian-Afghan nationality flap
OTTAWA — People who are criticizing the federal minister of democratic institutions in a flap over her country of birth are playing political games, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday.
Maryam Monsef said in September she had recently found out she was born in Iran and not in Afghanistan as her mother had always told her.
That prompted some people, including Conservative MP Tony Clement, to say she should step down from her position pending an inquiry into her citizenship application.
But Trudeau said people shouldn’t be mixing Monsef’s story with those of people who have lied to get into the country.