Attending Rally Canadian Premier Mentions 'Regime Change' In Iran

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has spoken about the likelihood of regime change in Iran, saying that Canada will no longer be a haven for those affiliated with it.

The prime minister, who attended a large gathering of Iranians in Ottawa with his wife, said probably when the regime changes and the situation gets better in Iran, those responsible for oppressing the people will never be forgotten and will never be allowed to come to Canada.

Trudeau is the first Western leader to acknowledge that current protests in Iran can bring about regime change.

In a powerful show of solidarity with the people in Iran, hundreds gathered in the Canadian capital on Saturday to speak out against Iran’s religious, authoritarian government.

Demonstrators formed a human chain, tramped their feet, and chanted Mahsa Amini’s name. She was the young woman whose death in September sparked the uprising in Iran.

Iran has been gripped by six weeks of protests that swept the country when Amini, 22, was arrested for not following Iran’s strict dress rules for women known as hijab. She received fatal head injuries in police custody and died on September 16.

“We will stand with you, I will march with you, and I will hold hands with you,” Trudeau said, adding “We will continue to stand with this beautiful community and demonstrate to the world that we will not forget Mahsa Amini.”

Elsewhere in his remarks Trudeau stressed, “We know there are people in Canada now who have benefited from the corrupt, from the horrific regime in Iran and who are hiding amongst ... this beautiful community.”

In recent years, several Iranian officials accused of corruption or human rights abuses have been seen in Canada, either permanently or on a trip.

One of them was Mahmoud-Reza Khavari, the former CEO of the state-owned Melli Bank, who fled to Canada in 2010, after being accused of embezzling billions of dollars.

The other was Morteza Talaei the former commander of Tehran’s police force. He was in office when the regime beat the Canadian-Iranian journalist Zahra Kazemi to death in Evin Prison in 2003. A photograph was published on social media showing him at a gym near Toronto in 2020. His presence in Canada sparked outrage among Iranians who urged the government to expel officials and agents of the Islamic Republic.

During the rally on Saturday Trudeau said “Taking advantage of Canada's freedoms, Canada's opportunities, and using the riches they stole from the Iranian people to live a good life in Canada. Well, we say no more.”

The Canadian premier also noted that his government will be working to ensure his country is never again a safe haven for “killers, murderers, and those responsible for the oppression of Iranian people.”

Trudeau also raised his fist chanting slogans in Persian saying, “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.”

After his statements, Trudeau accompanied hundreds of protesters in a march across the city.

Iranian diaspora also held similar demonstrations and formed human chains in other cities from Australian to Berlin and to Canada, including, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.

The shift in the Trudeau cabinet's approach to Iran comes as he was criticized earlier on Iranian social media for not participating at any event or demonstration related to Iran.

Many believe the Canadian government has realized the facts on the ground have changed and increasing pressure by the Iranian-Canadians has finally brought about a change in policy.