Masood Masjoody is shown in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (Mandatory Credit)

By The Canadian Press

Suspects in B.C. killing of vocal Iran critic to make Vancouver court appearance

Mar 16, 2026 | 2:00 AM

VANCOUVER — Two people accused of killing a vocal Iran critic in British Columbia are set to appear in a Vancouver courtroom this morning.

Court records show 48-year-old Mehdi Ahmadzadeh Razavi of Maple Ridge and 45-year-old Arezou Soltani of North Vancouver are scheduled for a hearing to fix a date for a future appearance.

Razavi and Soltani have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Masood Masjoody, a mathematician who was an instructor for a time at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C.

Homicide investigators have said Masjoody was last seen in February, and his remains were found in Mission, B.C., on March 6.

Sgt. Freda Fong says investigators believe Masjoody’s killing was “targeted,” and that the Burnaby man had “ongoing disputes” with the suspects.

FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

'I'm really scared': North Battleford taxi company raises funds for slain driver's family, adds safety measures

11m ago

Teen handed three-year sentence for attempted murder at Saskatoon's Evan Hardy Collegiate

1h ago

MISSING

RCMP seek public help to locate missing North Battleford man

1h ago

Court records show Masjoody filed lawsuits in recent years naming many parties as defendants, including the suspects as well as the late Shah of Iran’s son, Reza Pahlavi, alleging defamation and harassment.

Masjoody was declared a “vexatious litigant” by the B.C. Court of Appeal last year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 16, 2026.

The Canadian Press