Iranian activist Mehdi Amin identified as victim in Markham homicide investigation
Amin, 58, was found dead inside his home Wednesday afternoon
York police have identified the victim in a recent Markham homicide investigation as 58-year-old Mehdi Amin.
Friends of Amin who spoke to CBC Toronto said he was a well-known Iranian dissident and activist.
Kaveh Shahrooz, a Toronto lawyer and senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, said he knew Amin from a community of anti-regime activists in the GTA.
"There are a number of us who work for human rights and democracy back in Iran, and I am quite involved in that and Mehdi was quite involved with that, too," Shahrooz said.
York police were initially called to Amin's home on Feeney Lane on Wednesday afternoon. Officers arrived and found him dead inside, police said in a news release issued Friday morning. Amin's death was then ruled a homicide.
Investigators are currently looking for a black Honda CRV with licence plate BNEV917 in connection with the case
Amin lived most of his life in Iran before coming to Canada, Shahrooz said, adding that he was well-liked, and devoted much of his free time to community events and protests.
"He had always been incredibly kind to me. He was soft-spoken, a gentleman. He was always willing to put up his hand to help out in any event that we were having," Shahrooz continued.
Anyone who may have noticed anything suspicious in the area on Wednesday or anyone with video surveillance from the neighbourhood is asked to contact York police.