More than 100 rally in Toronto to show support for uprising against Iranian regime

Members of Toronto's Iranian community rallied on Friday in support of anti-government protests in Iran.

Two rallies were held, one at Simcoe Park downtown and the other at Mel Lastman Square in North York, drawing more than one hundred people in total. Demonstrations sang, chanted, waved flags and held photos of loved ones.

"Be their voice!" demonstrators chanted, adding they are keeping a close eye on the protests in Tehran and standing in solidarity with loved ones back home.

Mehrdokht Hadi, an organizer of the rally, said the demonstrators are trying to draw attention to the uprising in Iran and are concerned for the safety of the protesters there.

"They've come to the streets again to call for democracy for Iran, freedom for Iran. And the government of Iran has shut down the internet," he said.

"We're here because the internet is shut down. And when they do that, like November 2019, the massacre starts. We are here to ask for help, to help us to be the voice of the people of Iran."

According to a report by the The Associated Press, at least 65 people have been killed in the protests that started in late December over the economy and have turned into demonstrations against the government.

The protests also represent a test of whether the Iranian public could be swayed by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, whose fatally ill father, the shah, fled Iran just before the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Pahlavi, who called for the protests Thursday night, similarly called for demonstrations at 8 p.m. local time Friday.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said the protesters, who state media have called "terrorists," are acting "in order to please the president of the United States."

The Associated Press said the government cut off the internet and has blocked international calls. More than 2,300 people have been detained.

Hadi said the demonstrators want the Canadian government to show its support for the people of Iran by taking a strong stand.

"Clear, strong and meaningful statements from the politicians of Canada — we want to hear that," Hadi said.

A post on X, formerly Twitter, by the official account of Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday said, "Canada strongly condemns the killing of protestors, the use of violence, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation tactics by the Iranian regime against its own people. We stand in solidarity with the Iranian people, whose voice must be heard, as they demand freedom and dignity."

Parasto Azizi, who has family in the country and also demonstrated Friday, said she is concerned the Iranian government may unleash violence on the protesters now that the Internet is shut down. Her grandparents, cousins and friends are still in the country.