Iranians in London, Ont., call for regime change in solidarity with protests in Tehran
CBC
Iranian Londoners say they're standing in solidarity with the residents of Iran in their fight against the country's current regime and demand for democracy and freedom.
As protests in Iran continue into their eleventh day, dozens of local community members took to the busy intersection of Oxford Street and Wonderland in west London on Thursday to raise awareness and voice their support.
"We are reflecting what people in Iran want, which is changing the regime," said protest organizer Besat Zardosht. "They have been chanting against the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran and everyone has been out in the streets."
Protests initially erupted in Tehran's Grand Bazaar market over the country's ailing economy, with its currency plunging to record lows and soaring inflation, but the focus quickly expanded to broader frustrations toward the country's clerical rulers and their violations of human rights.
As of Thursday, at least 41 people have been killed in the violence around the demonstrations, while more than 2,270 others have been detained, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.
Thursday's rally in London was largely influenced by a call from exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi for mass demonstrations in Tehran and worldwide. Internet and telephone lines were shut down immediately after the protests started.
For those outside of Iran, not being able to connect with loved ones back home has been "absolutely devastating," said Zardosht.
"We have no idea how our loved ones are doing. I've been awake since 5 a.m. checking the news and I was working while my mind worrying about my family in Iran," she said. "Our souls live in two places. One here with our immediate family, and the other with every person in Iran."
Mo Akbari left Iran for Canada about 40 years ago and said millions of Iranians have been forced out of their country because of the regime and its oppression of people.
"For years, people have been fighting for their basic freedom, for their dignity which they’ve been denied in Iran. Everything from women's rights, freedom and human rights. People are being oppressed for any reason," said Akbari.
"And on top of that, there is just so much corruption in the country, it pushed the people to the brink of taking the issue in their own hand and getting rid of this regime once and for all. The economy was just a trigger but it's so much deeper than that."
Akbari hopes change comes soon, especially given U.S. President Donald Trump's stark warning that if Tehran "violently kills peaceful protesters," the United States "will come to their rescue."
"People really don't know what to do, they are fleeing the country, they're stealing," Akbari added. "It comes a point where people say enough is enough."
The current protests have become the biggest in Iran since 2022, when the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody triggered nationwide demonstrations, followed by the regime's executions of several protesters.
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