Iranian diaspora organize weekly protests in Montreal

What began as a feminist movement, has turned into a revolution, as Iranians are demanding for an end to the regime. Nation-wide protests in Iran began in late September, following the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Zhina "Mahsa" Amini. Amini died in a hospital in Tehran after Iran’s morality police inflicted violence on her after identifying Amini for improperly wearing her hijab. 

Since the death of Amini, protests have taken place every Saturday in Montreal since, bringing together the Iranian diaspora and others who want to see an end to Iran's regime.

Iranians have experienced state violence as a result of protesting, with some being shot, detained, tortured and sexually assaulted. Recently, 227 parliament members in Iran have called on the Judiciary to issue death sentences for arrested protesters.

Local 514 looks into how sanctions strengthen the regime, protests here in Montreal and the strength of Iranians demanding for an end to an oppressive regime. We spoke to Darya Almasi and Maryam Azimzadehirani, volunteers that have been organizing the rallies for Iran in Montreal. 

Many women in Iran have taken off their hijab or cut their hair as a way to protest the regime and fight for their right to choose. But it must be made clear: the hijab or Islam isn’t the core of the movement, the hijab is a symbol for the movement in Iran where the public is asking for politicians not to force their ideals of what a woman should or shouldn’t do. It’s the REGIME’s oppression of women, not Islam.

Almasi said Iranians want nothing less than regime change. Women, life, freedom has been the slogan of the movement. This saying is a Kurdish saying, which has become the slogan of the movement. It highlights that the focus is on the sovereignty of women. Almasi said when protesters in the movement say women, it's a big umbrella – inclusive of ethnic groups and religious minorities.