Over 50 Thousand Canadians Protest In Richmond Hill Against Islamist Government In Iran

On Saturday, October 1st, over 50 thousand people gathered at a rally in Richmond Hill to support the people on the streets in Iran protesting against the Regime in power. Protests have been widespread, sizeable, and frequent in Canada since the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the Islamic republic’s “Morality police,” including another gathering later that night at Mel Lastmen Square where thousands attended to call for an end to the 43 years oppressive reign of the theocratic dictatorship.

There have been three massive uprisings against the Regime inside Iran since 2017. The most recent uprising was sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who was arrested and brutally beaten by the morality police for “improper hijab,” meaning a few strands of loose hair. Her death seems to be the spark that re-ignited the protests after the Regime used Covid to shut down the streets back in 2020.

Now Iranians are back on the streets trying to overthrow their government, but this time they have the attention of the international community. Back in November of 2019, in what activists call “Bloody November,” more than 3000 peaceful protestors were killed by the regime. When asked why they were shooting people in the head an IRGC commander defended the response claiming that they are also shooting people in the legs. At this moment in time the entire international community, outside of the Trump administration, shrugged in indifference.

The story of Mahsa Amini seems to have the power to cut through the moral relativism among the Left-wing establishment. A young woman was murdered by religious fanatics enforcing the dress code of a gender apartheid dictatorship, and now women on the streets are standing up to the patriarchal government. The story here fits a wider meta-narrative of the West turning rallies of hundreds into thousands and thousands into tens of thousands. 

This brings us to the rally of 50 thousand in Richmond Hill. Richmond Hill is situated just north of Toronto in the highly important swing ridings of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). The GTA ridings are always the focus of many political pundits during a federal election, for good reason.

Currently, the MP for Richmond Hill is held by Liberal Majid Jowhari. Jowhari has very strong ties to the Islamic Republic and that is not lost on the people. Jowhari showed up to yesterday’s protest in the middle of the rally, and when he was pointed out on the mic he was met with a chorus of boos and chants of “Shame! Shame! Shame!”

The stance of the government on the Islamic Republic could be a major electoral issue in a few key ridings, and the Conservatives and Liberals could not be more different. Justin Trudeau has been a consistent enabler of the Islamic Republic only doing the bare minimum and only when forced into it. Even when Trudeau does say something against the regime it is usually just rhetoric and no action. Famously back in 2018, the Liberals were forced to agree with a Conservative motion to list the IRGC as a Foreign terrorist organization, they have done nothing since.

The Liberals promised to help out the families of the victims of flight PS752 which was shot down by the IRGC, instead, Trudeau’s government has used its resources to defend the IRGC in a Canadian court. Most recently they have announced that they will sanction members of the Islamic Republic’s morality police, but no names have been announced.

According to one of the event organizers Kaveh Sharooz, both Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Melonie Jolie ignored the invitation to join the rally in Richmond Hill. In contrast, Conservative leader Perrie Poilievre changed his weekend plans and joined the rally to deliver remarks in support of the Iranian people. Deputy leader Melisa Lantsman has even declared the party’s support for regime change in Iran.

The Iranian diaspora has always been a sleeping giant plagued with in-fighting. However, the death of Mahsa Amini has seemed to awaken its potential. If the Trudeau Liberals don’t change course on the regime soon they could lose a major voting block to Poilievre’s Conservatives in bunch of key ridings.