On September 16, 2022, a 22-year-old Iranian woman named Mahsa Jina Amini was arrested in the capital city of Iran for wearing her hijab improperly. She was tortured, beaten and murdered by Iran’s “morality police”
Mahsa’s murder has sparked a protest movement in Iran and around the world called Woman Life-Freedom. The movement continues despite relentless violence, detention, massacre and suppression by the government of Iran. On January 25, 2023, I asked Ottawa City Council to go on record as standing in solidarity with the 400 Iranian-Canadians calling for their governments to express support for the people of Iran as they fight for the basic human rights of women and girls. The motion passed unanimously.
On Tuesday, June 20, “Mahsa Jina Amini” street plaques will be unveiled on Metcalfe Street at MacLaren, near the former Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Guest speakers include Mayor Sutcliffe, elected representatives and members of the Canadian-Iranian community.
I invite residents of Bay Ward to join us on June 20 at 2:30pm for this important recognition of our shared values that all citizens of the world may live in freedom and safety.
