Iranian Canadians Rally Against the Celebration of Khomeini in Richmond Hill, Ontario
11:08 - 1 June 2015
Kurdpa: Hundreds rallied together against the 26th anniversary celebration of the brutal dictator, Mousavi Khomeini, the founder of Islamic Republic of Iran.
On May 31, the Muslim community in Richmond Hill held a memorial at the Islamic Society of York Region to commemorate the 26th anniversary of the death of Iran’s Islamic state founder, Ayatollah Khomeini, “An Awakening Against Global Injustice”.
In opposition to this event, hundreds of members of the Iranian and Kurdish community, from the Greater Toronto Area, as well as, non-Iranians rallied together against the celebration of the brutal dictator that was directly responsible for heinous crimes against humanity inside Iran.
Members of the Provincial Parliament of Ontario (MPP), the media and human rights activist gathered in support of the rally.
A large crowd of Iranians, from various ethnicities and religious backgrounds, lined the street leading to the gates of the Islamic Society of York Region, waving flags, chanting slogans and actively protesting against the memorial taking place inside the centre. There was also a police presence on the busy street, controlling the lively crowd.
Among those who made formal remarks, in strong support of the rally, were: Richmond Hill MPP Dr. Reza Moridi; Oak-Ridges-Markham MPP Dr. Helena Jaczek; Thornhill MPP Gila Martow; and Newmarket-Aurora MPP Chris Ballard.
In addition, speeches were made by York University Associate Director, Dr. Farrokh Zandi, Kaveh Shahrooz; Toronto Sun Culmnist, Tarek Fatah; and Chief Executive Officer of the B’Nai Brith Canada, Michael Mostyn, in opposition to the commemoration of Khomeini.
“Today, my fellow Canadians, we have gathered here to raise our voices against those people, on the other side of this street, who are praising and celebrating the life of a man who murdered hundreds of thousands of people in our homeland of Iran”, said MPP Moridi. “Shame on those people who are celebrating a murderer! Shame on those people who call themselves Canadians but they don’t know Canadian values!”
“Those people are celebrating the banning and murdering of the Jews, the Baha’is, the Christians, and the Sunnis. They are celebrating a man who killed many Kurds, many Turkomans, many Turks in my homeland, Iran!” MPP Moridi went on.
During the span of his political career, as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Khomeini was responsible for the deaths of many thousands of people in Iran.
During the Iran-Iraq war, which took place for eight years, Khomeini was a driving force behind the continuation of the war between the two nations, causing the unnecessary deaths of countless Iranians.
Further, he ordered the torture and assassination of thousands of political activists that opposed and criticized his views, both inside and outside of the Iranian borders.
Khomeini’s corrupt government dismissed the rights of women, as well as, national and religious groups, such as Kurds, Turks, Arabs and Baloch, among many others.
“Ayatollah Khomeini is dead but Ayatollah Khomeini is alive, and if you do not understand that, you will suffer tremendously. For heaven’s sake, this is not about Iran, this is about Canada! This is about Western civilization, this is about the equality of men and women!” said Fatah, about the followers of Khomeini and other wrongdoers of the Islamic faith.
Over 90 members of the Iranian Canadian community, from all walks of life, signed a letter that was sent to the office of the Prime Minister of Canada, in outrage over the 26th anniversary of Khomeini’s life being celebrated in Richmond Hill.
Iranian Kurdish political parties in Canada also released a joint statement condemning the event and its organizers and called on their members and supporters to rally against it.
Writing by Kurdpa Staff Writers and editing by Sharmin Hassaniani.
On May 31, the Muslim community in Richmond Hill held a memorial at the Islamic Society of York Region to commemorate the 26th anniversary of the death of Iran’s Islamic state founder, Ayatollah Khomeini, “An Awakening Against Global Injustice”.
In opposition to this event, hundreds of members of the Iranian and Kurdish community, from the Greater Toronto Area, as well as, non-Iranians rallied together against the celebration of the brutal dictator that was directly responsible for heinous crimes against humanity inside Iran.
Members of the Provincial Parliament of Ontario (MPP), the media and human rights activist gathered in support of the rally.
A large crowd of Iranians, from various ethnicities and religious backgrounds, lined the street leading to the gates of the Islamic Society of York Region, waving flags, chanting slogans and actively protesting against the memorial taking place inside the centre. There was also a police presence on the busy street, controlling the lively crowd.
Among those who made formal remarks, in strong support of the rally, were: Richmond Hill MPP Dr. Reza Moridi; Oak-Ridges-Markham MPP Dr. Helena Jaczek; Thornhill MPP Gila Martow; and Newmarket-Aurora MPP Chris Ballard.
In addition, speeches were made by York University Associate Director, Dr. Farrokh Zandi, Kaveh Shahrooz; Toronto Sun Culmnist, Tarek Fatah; and Chief Executive Officer of the B’Nai Brith Canada, Michael Mostyn, in opposition to the commemoration of Khomeini.
“Today, my fellow Canadians, we have gathered here to raise our voices against those people, on the other side of this street, who are praising and celebrating the life of a man who murdered hundreds of thousands of people in our homeland of Iran”, said MPP Moridi. “Shame on those people who are celebrating a murderer! Shame on those people who call themselves Canadians but they don’t know Canadian values!”
“Those people are celebrating the banning and murdering of the Jews, the Baha’is, the Christians, and the Sunnis. They are celebrating a man who killed many Kurds, many Turkomans, many Turks in my homeland, Iran!” MPP Moridi went on.
During the span of his political career, as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Khomeini was responsible for the deaths of many thousands of people in Iran.
During the Iran-Iraq war, which took place for eight years, Khomeini was a driving force behind the continuation of the war between the two nations, causing the unnecessary deaths of countless Iranians.
Further, he ordered the torture and assassination of thousands of political activists that opposed and criticized his views, both inside and outside of the Iranian borders.
Khomeini’s corrupt government dismissed the rights of women, as well as, national and religious groups, such as Kurds, Turks, Arabs and Baloch, among many others.
“Ayatollah Khomeini is dead but Ayatollah Khomeini is alive, and if you do not understand that, you will suffer tremendously. For heaven’s sake, this is not about Iran, this is about Canada! This is about Western civilization, this is about the equality of men and women!” said Fatah, about the followers of Khomeini and other wrongdoers of the Islamic faith.
Over 90 members of the Iranian Canadian community, from all walks of life, signed a letter that was sent to the office of the Prime Minister of Canada, in outrage over the 26th anniversary of Khomeini’s life being celebrated in Richmond Hill.
Iranian Kurdish political parties in Canada also released a joint statement condemning the event and its organizers and called on their members and supporters to rally against it.
Writing by Kurdpa Staff Writers and editing by Sharmin Hassaniani.
Iranian Canadians Rally Against the Celebration of Khomeini in Richmond Hill, OntarioOn May 31, the Muslim community...
Posted by KURDPA, Kurdistan Press Agency on Sunday, May 31, 2015
