Protesters calling for the end of the Iranian regime and the restoration of human rights in the country lined the McLeod Trail on Saturday afternoon.
About 100 protesters, mostly from Calgary’s Iranian-Canadian community, have gathered to support the protests that have taken place in Calgary over the past 45 days. This follows earlier anti-regime protests at City Hall since early October.
Iranian protesters are fighting regime forces after the death of 22-year-old Masa Amini, who was murdered by Iran’s morality police.
“We are here now in this cold time to support the people of Iran,” said Egbar Qayadan, the organizer of the protest.
Protesters carried pictures of Amini alongside dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi and human rights activist Hoosein Ronagi, one of the latest Iranians to be arrested by the regime.
Other protesters signed autographs with the victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, which was shot down by the regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps shortly after takeoff in January 2020.
Kayadan said the phrase “women’s freedom for life”, now in international use, remained a special phrase for protesters.
“Iranian women on the front lines now, the revolution is in their hands,” he said.
“That’s why we Canadians want to support women’s freedom all over the world, especially in Iran, and human rights in Iran.”
Additional Sanctions Added by Canadian Government on Halloween
The Canadian government applied additional sanctions against members of the Iranian regime on October 31.
Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said Canada will continue to support the Iranian people through the enforcement of sanctions.
“Iranian people, including women and young people, have put up with a regime that suppresses and violates their humanity for too long, and they are putting their lives at risk,” Jolie said.
“They demand that their human rights be respected, and it is our duty to respond and amplify their voices.”
Among the regime forces added in the latest round of sanctions is Iranian law enforcement member Al-Mustafa International University, which the GOC said is sending students to the regime’s Qods forces.Northern Horror Asadullah Jafari, Chief Justice of San State and Seyed Morteza Mousavi, Deputy Chief Justice and Chief Executive of Mazandaran State.
Under the Special Economic Measures Regulations, the assets held by these individuals in Canada have been frozen. Transactions with these individuals are prohibited and they are not permitted to enter Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
“We are grateful to the government, especially Mr Trudeau, for the sanctions against the 10,000 people they are helping. [Iran’s] government,” said Kayadan.
“We need more sanctions on the entire military… We need sanctions on the entire organization because it is in Syria, it is in Iraq and it is terrorizing the people.
“These people are therefore dangerous to the Middle East as a whole, and especially to the Iranians who are currently in Iran.”
Kayadan said he set up an Instagram page at www.instagram.com/iraniancalgary because Calgarians want to be more informed about the upcoming protests.
Photo of anti-Iran regime protest at Calgary City Hall
