(Montreal) One year to the day after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian student who died in unclear circumstances three days after being arrested by the Iranian moral police, the anger of the Iranian people has not weakened, no more than the wind of solidarity that blows across the world towards the residents of this country who seek to emancipate themselves from oppression.
A peaceful march is taking place this Saturday in Montreal to once again demonstrate the solidarity of Quebecers towards the Iranians. It was scheduled to start at 2 p.m. in front of McGill University.
In Iran, the Women, Life and Freedom movement was formed in response to the death of Ms.me Amini, whose only “crime” would have been not having worn the hijab properly.
After the announcement of his death, massive waves of protests created a movement across the country demanding change from the theocratic regime in place, and it has still not run out of steam.
Despite this, the demonstrations gave rise to violent repression by the authorities, who carried out tens of thousands of arrests and convictions considered arbitrary. Between 300 and 500 people also lost their lives during these gatherings, which Amnesty International denounced.
A delegation from Québec solidaire was present at the demonstration to demonstrate the solidarity of Quebecers towards the Iranian people.
“Today, in Quebec, it is important to commemorate this event, to demonstrate the solidarity of all the Quebec people, of the elected representatives of Quebec who want to send a message to the Iranian government to tell them that they are on the side of the population,” said the MP for Mercier, Ruba Ghazal, in an interview.
This recalls that in December 2022, the National Assembly unanimously adopted a transpartisan motion that it had tabled in the chamber to condemn the repression of women in Iran.
“All elected officials of the National Assembly are in solidarity with this popular uprising,” she underlined.
This united front should send Ottawa the message that we must be even firmer against the Iranian authorities.
Mme Ghazal hopes for more sanctions from the federal government. “Our governments must make absolutely no gesture that could legitimize this government of tyrants,” she insisted.
Over the past year, the Canadian government has adopted numerous sanctions against Iran. Several leaders of the regime and some of its sympathizers, whether individuals or legal entities, have been placed on a blacklist preventing them from staying in Canada or having assets there. The most recent registrations took place on Friday.
A march in support of the Iranian people took place in Montreal on June 9.
