Sudbury event supports Iranians protesting woman's death at the hands of the morality police
A protest planned Saturday in Sudbury is related to the situation in Iran, where a young woman died in custody after being arrested by that country's morality police.
She was accused of not wearing her hijab properly and the government says she died suddenly because of a health condition.
But her family rejects that claim and said she was beaten to death. Protests have spread across Iran.
Iranian students at Laurentian University are now trying to make it known to others what exactly is happening to innocent people in the country.
They are keeping their names and faces private because of concerns for their families still living in Iran.
One man who moved to Sudbury in 2020 to study at Laurentian said he is concerned for his family's safety, especially after his brother was injured while protesting.
“He was on the sidewalk when the police motorcycle passed him and they shot him (with) plastic bullets to his abs,” the man said.
He said it pains him to know how many women and girls are being treated poorly every minute of the day.
“They are killing girls and women every day," he said.
"No man is allowed to even touch the hand or any part of a woman -- it’s not allowed. But the police there are catching the girls -- even the small girls, the 15-year-old girls, they are forcing them into their vans. It’s completely against Islam.”
A Laurentian professor who is originally from Iran is supporting the initiative. He is also concerned for family, friends and everyone who is currently living there.
“There are some people who are detained and you don’t know what will happen to them in the next few weeks after maybe the protest is done," said Prof. Kamran Eshghi
"They have killed so many people and you are worried about all of them. Right now, they don’t have access to internet … and other social media platforms. All of them are shut down.”
A protest will be taking place at Bell Park in Sudbury at 1:30 p.m. Organizers said everyone is welcome to join and show their support.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.