A remembrance ceremony at the University of Saskatchewan on Sunday brought together members of Saskatoon's Iranian community to commemorate what organizers describe as 40,000 deaths during protests that erupted across Iran in January. The event, organized by the university's Iranian Students' Association, also served as a public appeal for greater Canadian awareness of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its activities inside the diaspora.
"We feel like there is not enough coverage in the mainstream media, unfortunately," said Sepideh Gorji, a member of the association. "For people to recognize that when we're talking about the Iranian government, it is IRGC. It's the same terrorist organization that Canada has recognized; we just want to spread awareness."
Weekly demonstrations since January
Since the January uprising, the local community has held protests nearly every week. Gorji described the sustained mobilization as emotionally draining but necessary. "It reminds us that we have one goal, and that's freedom and democracy in Iran, and we should never forget that," she said. "It's been really hard; we have a lot of opposition in the diaspora from the IRGC who try to stop us. You get really disappointed and you get tired and a lot of tears we have shed. But then, when gatherings like this happen, it reminds us that we all stand together."
The Canadian government listed the IRGC as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code in June 2024, a move the community had long advocated. Organizers say the designation must be backed by enforcement that addresses intimidation and surveillance directed at Iranian Canadians.
Call for public recognition
Gorji urged Canadians to distinguish the movement's aims from the regime's narrative. "When we see that the Canadian community recognizes that, it means a lot to us because we have been trying to say it loud and clear that this terrorist organization exists in the West and they are dangerous," she said. "And we want them to distinguish the lion and sun revolution that we are after."
The association says it will continue weekly actions through the summer and plans to coordinate with similar groups in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal ahead of the protest movement's next major anniversary.
Based on reporting by Global News.