Members of Montreal’s Iranian community gathered at Cabot Square on Saturday to protest a violent crackdown on demonstrations in Iran and to call for stronger international action. This is the second demonstration to take place in Montreal. Among the protesters was Atena Barforoushi. “The news we hear from Iran is extremely disturbing,” she said. “The number of people who got killed by the regime, and the people who are injured.” Barforoushi says she has been unable to contact family members in Iran for more than a week because of government-imposed internet blackouts. “We don’t have internet. We haven’t heard from our family over a week,” said Barforoushi. Hundreds of people attended the demonstration, which later moved toward the U.S. consulate on Sainte-Catherine Street. Organizers say the goal is to pressure international communities, particularly the United States, to take stronger action against the current Islamic regime. “We need the support because we are the people, you see we are not armed. We’re not military. We are just people. We have just our voice,” said Catherina Kiani Lukashova, a spokesperson for the protest. Many people also voiced support for Iran’s exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, as a possible transitional leader. Demonstrations erupted in Iran on Dec. 28 over the country’s ailing economy and morphed into protests challenging the theocratic government. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency estimates the death toll to be at least 3,090. However, members of the Iranian community in Montreal say the number may be higher. For those who gathered to protest, the message was clear. “We want freedom for them,” said Lukashova. “Food, electricity, internet, freedom at home, the basics of human rights that they don’t have at the moment.” -With files from the Associated Press
