B.C. premier says province stands 'in solidarity' with Iranians protesting regime
The premier of British Columbia is voicing his support for Iranians who are protesting their government's treatment of a young woman who died in the custody of the country's morality police.
Mahsa Amini's death last month has sparked rolling demonstrations in the capital of Tehran and around the country after the 22-year-old was arrested for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic's strict dress code.
Those protests have spilled over into demonstrations of solidarity around the world, including in B.C., where thousands have gathered on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery and outside the B.C. legislature in Victoria.
"British Columbians and people around the world stand in solidarity with Iranians calling for gender equality, human rights and freedom," Premier John Horgan said in a statement Wednesday.
"Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman, was arrested by police on Sept. 13 in Tehran for showing her hair under her headscarf," the premier added. "Three days later, she was dead."
Roughly 45,000 people of Iranian descent live in the Metro Vancouver area, according to the latest census data.
Horgan said now is an "incredibly difficult time" for those with family and friends in Iran amid the ongoing unrest and government crackdown on the protests.
"The courage of Iranian women and their allies reminds us that we must stand together in support of women's rights – across generations, gender and geography," the premier said.
"Our government will always stand up for equality and justice, at home and abroad, and continue our work to build a better province and a better world," he added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'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.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States.