Iranians in London, Ont., rally to show support for regime change in Iran
CBC
Cheers rang through Springbank Park in London, Ont., on Sunday afternoon as dozens of local Iranians danced, chanted and waved flags to mark the death of Iran’s supreme leader, who was killed in a major strike.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was dead after a joint attack by Israel and the United States, marking the end of a 36-year rule.
Iran's state media also confirmed the deaths of Khamanei's daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law and son-in-law, alongside the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and a top security adviser.
“People have been waiting for this moment for years,” said Besat Zardosht, who helped organize the London rally.“These people deserve to be happy and deserve to celebrate the end of a dictator.”
“There have been so many lives that have been taken and they’re not here with us to celebrate, but all of them have asked us before they go … to celebrate and to be happy for them.”
Sunday’s rally, where people laughed while listening to music and eating snacks, was a noticeably different scene from how local Iranians were gathering just a few months ago.
In January, dozens of Londoners joined worldwide protests calling for a change in Iran’s regime. Protests first erupted in Tehran's Grand Bazaar market over the country's ailing economy, but the focus quickly expanded to broader frustrations toward the country's clerical rulers and their violations of human rights.
“This is absolutely what we wanted. We all played a small role and together made this happen,” Zardosht said.
Maryam Zardosht said she was at home with her parents when she heard early reports about Khamanei’s death.
“We were checking the news every second and were waiting...Suddenly, I heard my mom and dad shouting, ‘He is dead!’ and I just started screaming from the bottom of my heart and my throat,” she said.
“We have an Israeli neighbour, and I just filled a plate with lots of sweets to bring to them to just tell them that we are so happy and thankful to Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump,” she said.
Some other Iranian Londoners told CBC News they are also grateful for the joint U.S.-Israel intervention.
“I think the regime in Tehran brought it to themselves because this is a regime that has been threatening all of the world,” said Masoud Khalkhali. “I don’t understand why people make it an abstract argument that it is not good that it was done by Israel or the United States.”
Besat Zardosht said outside help was necessary to create change.
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