Protests have swept through the Islamic Republic for weeks following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died on September 16 after being detained by “morality police”…reports Asian Lite News
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has marched with protesters in Ottawa in support of protests that have swept Iran for more than 40 days after September 16 death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s morality police.
Standing in front of a white banner covered with dozens of red hand prints, Trudeau said: “The women in Iran, daughters and the grandmothers and the allies… they are not forgotten.”
“We will stand with you. I’ll march with you, I will hold hands with you. We will continue to stand with this beautiful community,” Trudeau said, before ending his speech by shouting Persian slogans, his fist raised, the AFP reported.
Protests have swept through the Islamic Republic for weeks following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died on September 16 after being detained by “morality police” and taken to a “re-education center,” allegedly for not abiding by the country’s conservative dress code.
Meanwhile, Trudeau’s wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, also joined the protest, saying, “I stand with you because when one woman’s right is being denied, it is a sign of disrespect for all women.”
“And we will leave no sister behind.”
Violent clashes erupt
Iranian students clashed with security forces at universities across Iran on Sunday, according to the country’s activist and human rights groups.
Sunday’s violence came as nationwide protests gripped the country despite threats from the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, reported CNN.
The Guard’s chief, Hossein Salami had warned young Iranians that Saturday would be the last day of the protests.
On Saturday Salami called on Iranian young people specifically to desist from protesting, reported CNN.
“Today is the last day of the riots. Do not come to the streets again. What do you want from this nation?” Salami said.
In a video obtained by CNN via the pro-reform activist outlet Iran Wire, two uniformed officers can be seen in what appears to be an attempt to arrest a protester. The video is said to be recorded at Sanandaj Technical College in northwestern Iran.
In the capital Tehran, activist groups claimed clashes broke out between protesters, members of the Basij militia and police officers in plain clothes at Azad University but CNN cannot independently verify whether those in the clashes are security forces.
In a video posted by activist group 1500 tasvir, a large crowd of protesters can be seen, with some holding sticks. Tear gas appears to be thrown across the crowd but it’s unclear who it is thrown by.
In another video obtained by CNN via the pro-reform activist outlet IranWire, students at another university in the capital, the University of Tehran can be seen marching and chanting: “It’s not the time for mourning. It’s time for anger.”
Official state news agency IRNA reported a “large gathering” of students and professors at the University of Tehran “in response to the recent events and terrorist attack on the shrine of “Shahcheragh,” which took place in the southern city of Shiraz on Wednesday.
Also, in Sanandaj, gunshots can be heard in a video posted by Kurdish rights group Hengaw, said to be recorded near the University of Kurdistan.