Dr Sherry Weiss, a 43 year old dentist from Vancouver who was injured in a 1997 suicide bombing by Hamas in Israel, has submitted a damage suit against Iran, Shalom Toronto reports.

Weiss claims that the Iranian government was directly responsible for the attack, in September that year at the Mahane Yehuda open-air market in Jerusalem, in which she was badly wounded by the explosive device detonated by a suicide bomber.

Over a year ago the Canadian parliament authorized the Justice for Victims of Terror bill which gives Canadian citizens the right to present law suits against foreign states involved in terrorist activity.

This is the first case of a claim being presented under the new legislation.

Weiss has not received any assistance from the Canadian government – with her insurance company also refusing to cover the costs of her medical treatment – because her injuries were caused by a terror attack.

Weiss is hoping to receive compensation to cover medical costs from Iran’s assets in Canada, estimated at millions of dollars.