Deadly collapse: Iranian-Canadians demonstrate against the Iranian regime

After a first demonstration organized on Saturday by the Democratic Association of Iran, hundreds of demonstrators gathered on Sunday at Mel Lastman Square in Toronto, this time at the invitation of various activists.

Rallies were also planned in Montreal and Vancouver.

Nazila Nik was keen to participate in the Toronto demonstration.

 On doit être solidaire avec le peuple iranien et dénoncer le régime","text":"On doit être solidaire avec le peuple iranien et dénoncer le régime"}}"> We must stand in solidarity with the Iranian people and denounce the regime , she said.

Nazila Nik took part in the demonstration in Toronto.

PHOTO: RADIO-CANADA / STELLA DUPUY

At least 38 people died in the collapse of the Metropol Building , a 10-storey building under construction, on May 23 in Abadan, one of the main cities of the province of Khuzestan, located in the south-west of the country.

The death toll has steadily increased over the past few days as rescuers continued their search among the rubble.

Since the incident, anger has been unrelenting in the country.

Many protesters have gathered in recent weeks at the site of the collapse, and elsewhere in the country, to challenge senior Iranian officials.

They accuse their government of corruption and negligence.

The government's response is shocking

Iranian-Canadian journalist Mohammad Tajdolati was keen to join Sunday's protest in Toronto. As a journalist, he considers that he has the responsibility to tell what is currently happening in Iran.

Protesting Iranian-Canadians feel it is their responsibility to demonstrate and reflect the voices of Iranians abroad so people know what is happening there , he said.

Mohammad Tajdolati took part in the demonstration on Sunday.

PHOTO: RADIO-CANADA / STELLA DUPUY

In Iran, for days and nights, people were angry because the regime, the system that was responsible for this disaster, did not answer people's questions and did not take responsibility , adds the journalist, who explains that the owner of the building would be linked to stories of corruption.

Political scientist and Iranologist at the Raoul-Dandurand Chair at UQAM, Hanieh Ziaei agrees.

The population criticizes the late response. We always see a non-existent or insufficient response from the authorities to help the victims in this kind of situation , she said.

She recalls the collapse in 2017 in the center of Tehran of the Plasco Building , a 15-storey shopping center, which killed 22 people, including 16 firefighters.

But, according to her, the anger of the Iranians is not limited to the response of the authorities. She says protesters are denouncing institutionalized corruption, high inflation and currency depreciation.

A rooted anger

Mohammad Tajdolati stresses for his part that the situation is getting worse in terms of unemployment, pollution and political repression .

The region of Khuzestan is the richest region of the country because there are oil and gas wells, but for four decades, because of badly made and badly applied policies, this region has become one of the poorest people in the country ," he said.

“  People wonder why with such wealth under their feet, they have to live in catastrophic conditions.  »

And according to Hanieh Ziaei, the revolts will continue. The demonstrators are increasingly visible. This visibility and the occupation of public space show that the visceral fear of the riot squads and the figure of moral and religious authority is weakening in Iran. It is in loss of legitimacy , she says.

“  And in Iran, when you protest, your life is in danger. People are ready to risk their lives to denounce injustices.  »

Ayatollah's speech

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, spoke about the events in Abadan in a televised speech on Saturday.

Those responsible must be brought to justice, their punishment must serve as a lesson to others and similar incidents in the future must be avoided , he said.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, seen here in a photo released by the government on June 4, 2022.

PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Ayatollah has also blamed the recent spike in protests on Iran's enemies , including Iranians who he says are betraying the country abroad.

A response that the Toronto demonstrators did not hesitate to denounce.

According to researcher and activist Ata Hoodashtian, present at the demonstration, the Iranian authorities are in a catastrophic situation and fear an all-out insurrection .