Ottawa to install 'Mahsa Amini' signs in front of Iranian Embassy
The city of Ottawa will rename a section of Metcalfe Street in front of the Iranian Embassy "Mahsa Amini", in support of the Iranian woman who died while in Iranian police custody last summer.
Council approved a motion from Coun. Theresa Kavanagh to install "Mahsa Amini" street plaques at the intersections along Metcalfe Street between Somerset Street West and MacLaren Street.
The motion also calls on Mayor Mark Sutcliffe to send a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling for continued and increased sanctions against the Iranian government until, "the people of Iran have access to freedom, justice and the totality of human rights guaranteed under the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
Amini died in Iranian police custody in September after being arrested by the morality police for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic's strict dress code, sparking weeks of public protests across Iran. Protests and rallies in support of women in Iran were held in Ottawa and across Canada.
"Mahsa's murder sparked protests in Iran and around the world," Kavanagh told Council. "The international campaign called Women, Life, Freedom - we've all received multiple emails from Ottawa citizens pleading for their city to take a stand on behalf of the people of Iran."
Kavanagh added the "Mahsa Amini plaque on Metcalfe will, in a small measure, give voice to those in Iran who cannot tell the truth for fear of their lives."
According the motion, the "Mahsa Amini" street signs will be installed for at least one year.
Five councillors voted against the motion.
Coun. Matthew Luloff opposed the motion, telling Council that the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been permanently closed for more than a decade.
"None of it will be visible to the intended audience," Luloff said. "So, if our municipality wishes to express our anger and disgust at the current situation in Iran, so be it. And if we wish to prescribe further sanctions, all the better. But the well intentioned 'therefore, be it resolved', clause asking to spend money on a ceremonial naming of a street block that has been irrelevant to the desired recipient for over a decade is a useless endeavour regardless of the symbolism."
Last March, the city installed 'Free Ukraine' street signs in front of the Russian Embassy on Charlotte Street to protest Russia's military invasion of Ukraine.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca