Ottawa residents rally in solidarity with Iranians over woman's death
Demonstrations intensify in Iran sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman who died while in the custody of the morality police after being detained earlier this month for allegedly wearing her hijab too loosely.
“It’s not just about the hijab, it’s about the body they want to control and oppress all the women, to control the country,” said activist Azin Rezaeian.
The 22-year-old’s death sparked outrage in Ottawa’s Iranian community with one woman cutting off portions of her hair in front of hundreds of demonstrators during a downtown rally.
“Mahsa isn’t the first woman to go through this. It was a breaking point,” said Ramona Karimi, who joined several demonstrators on the downtown streets to raise awareness of what they say are oppressive rules by the Iranian regime.
“We need our leaders to listen and to help Iran,” she said. “The only way Iran can bypass this internet censorship and really get somewhere with the uprising and protest is if the whole world helps.”
Progressive Conservative MPP for Carleton Goldie Ghamari also joined the crowd, writing on Twitter “honoured to join the hundreds of people in Ottawa who came out to support the people of Iran. Say her name. Be their voice.”
The cries for “woman, life and freedom” grow louder. Several in the community say they will continue to raise awareness about the unfolding crisis and speak up for those who cannot.
“No one deserves to be treated like that and a young girl at that age with a lot of hopes and dreams being put through that situation is not acceptable,” said demonstrator Maryan Kayamkar.
Human rights organizations say at least 54 people have been killed by Iranian security forces while hundreds have been detained and beaten. Meanwhile Iran’s president threatened to "deal decisively" with demonstrators growing in numbers in cities across the country.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Centre Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn't been ruled out of tonight's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.