"The son of Iran's exiled shah, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, has positioned himself in favour of the protests, calling for demonstrations Thursday and Friday night. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said the protesters, who state media have called "terrorists," are acting "in order to please the president of the United States." The Associated Press said the government cut off the internet and has blocked international calls. More than 2,300 people have been detained."
"Lily Pourzand, an Iranian community activist and expert in women's rights, said the mandate from protesters is clear. "[Iranians] are done with this system and they want the regime and the system to be changed," she said Saturday. "They are sacrificing their life and freedom for that." Internet blackout has been historically used as a weapon, Pourzand said. "It's not about the luxury now, it's about human rights, it's about the safety and it's about their voice, which needs to be heard and the footage that needs to be seen by the whole world," she said."
More than 1,000 demonstrators gathered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, to show solidarity with Iranian protesters. Protests in Iran began in late December over economic collapse and have shifted into broad anti-government demonstrations. At least 65 people have been killed and more than 2,300 detained. The government reportedly cut internet access and blocked international calls. Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi publicly supported demonstrations while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused protesters of acting to please the U.S. Activists say protesters demand regime change and personal freedoms, and that internet blackouts are being used as a weapon to obscure escalating violence.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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