Alberta protesters stand in solidarity with Iranians outraged over woman's death in police custody
A pair of rallies in Alberta's largest cities on Saturday echoed chants worldwide over the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian woman detained allegedly for wearing her hijab improperly.
Thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets for the past two weeks protesting Amini's death, venting anger over the treatment of women in that country.
Javad Soleimani, an organizer for the solidarity rally in Edmonton, said it is important for those outside the Middle Eastern country to show support.
"Over the past 44 years, the Iranian people have endured numerous suffering and they have now made their choice," he said. "Enough is enough."
"As long as we have a government like the Iranian regime, the world is not a safe place for us," he added.
Protests have erupted worldwide, showing solidarity with the growing uprising in Iran demanding more freedom and recognition of human rights.
- Thousands of people protest in freedom rally for Iran near Toronto today
- Iranians are risking it all to protest. Their families say some of them aren't coming home
Nastaran Bazzazi, an organizer for the Calgary rally, said she and others have cut their hair in solidarity.
"The government in Iran, which is based on injustice, discrimination against women, LGTBQ, ethnic minorities, and other religion believers," Bazzazi said. "We are burning for the injustice in Iran."
"People in Iran are now bravely protesting," Soleimani said. "The Iranian regime is brutally suppressing them, but the Iranian people are not going to give up, and this is very important for us outside of Iran to increase their voice and awareness of what is going on."
With files from The Associated Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Another suspect arrested in Toronto Pearson airport gold heist: police
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Trump hush money trial: Play-by-play on Day 2 of Stormy Daniels testimony
Adult film star Stormy Daniels took the stand for a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump's hush money case continues in Manhattan.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
Cyclist strikes child crossing the street to catch school bus in Montreal
A video circulating on social media of a young girl being hit by a bike has some calling for better safety and more caution when designing bike lanes in the city. The video shows a four-year-old girl crossing Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood to get on a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street
B.C. wildfires likely to spread with weekend temperatures expected to soar, province says
Wildfire and emergency management officials in British Columbia are urging residents to be prepared for increased fire activity as temperatures are expected to soar above 30 C in parts of the province this weekend.
Wilfrid Laurier football player drafted despite only playing 27 games in his entire life
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.