Iranian, Ukrainian communities rally together against common adversary

On Sept. 16, protests ignited in Iran's capitol of Tehran in response to the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.

She was arrested for wearing an ‘improper’ hijab, violating the nation's mandatory hijab law, and taken into custody by the Guidance Patrol, who are the religious morality police for Iran’s government. She died in hospital later that day. Eyewitnesses say Amini was severely beaten by officers.

The protests are ongoing to this day.

Demonstrations have spread to diaspora worldwide in support of the movement and to draw the attention of the public.

Kelowna’s Iranian community, as well as representatives from Kelowna Stands with Ukraine, gathered in the city Saturday. They emblazoned their vehicles with flags from both countries and drove across the city to help heighten the profile of both ongoing conflicts.

“As we speak, young women and men are giving their lives to retrieve their freedom,” Ray Taheri, a UBCO professor and organizer, told Kelowna10.

The joint rally with members of the Ukrainian community come as both groups face common oppressors.

On Nov. 5, Iran’s governing regime acknowledged their supplying of drones to the Russian war machine for use on the battlefields of Ukraine.

Organizer Negar Yassaie hopes the cross-city procession showed the Iranian people do not support the brutal government.

“We are trying to show that Iranian people are different from the cruel regime that is in Iran,” Yassaie explained. “We want peace in all the countries. We are against wars, and we want freedom for all the people.”

The event grew as more and more cars arrived carrying staunch supporters, including one man with incredible dedication to the cause.

He had broken his hand that morning, and rather than going to the hospital he said he wanted to be with the group and support them. When he was finished, only then would he go to the hospital.

“We are all global citizens and we all must take a part to solve this problem,” Taheri said. “Either we are going to be a part of the solution, or we unwantedly will be a part of the problem.”