Iranian-Canadians call for change after protests in Iran claim at least 21 lives
TORONTO — As widespread protests in Iran reached their sixth day, Iranian-Canadians voiced concern for loved ones living in the Middle Eastern country and called on Canada to show greater solidarity with peaceful demonstrators who’ve taken to the streets.
What began on Dec. 28 in the city of Mashhad as a protest against a weak economy and surging food prices has spread across Iran, with demonstrators criticizing Iran’s government and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. At least 21 people have died in the protests.
Iranians have grown frustrated by the lack of progress, even under presidents who have claimed to be reformers, said Iranian-Canadian activist and community organizer Mehrdad Ariannejad, who has been monitoring the situation through media reports over the past few months.
“The economic situation is terrible, people are suffering, people are not seeing results,” said Ariannejad, who has lived in Canada for about 20 years but has family in Iran.