Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Montreal on Saturday, January 10, 2026, in a powerful display of solidarity with anti-government protesters inside Iran. The rally echoed similar events held in cities across the globe, amplifying international condemnation of the Iranian regime's response to widespread domestic unrest.
Voices and Symbols of Defiance in Montreal
The crowd in Montreal was vocal and visually striking. Participants chanted slogans opposing the rule of the Islamic Republic. A sea of Iran's pre-1979 lion and sun flags, a symbol long associated with opposition to the current government, waved throughout the gathering. The scene was captured and shared on social media by attendees and journalists, including Montreal Gazette reporter Harry North.
The protests within Iran, which first erupted in late December 2025, were initially fueled by the country's crippling economic conditions. Starting with shopkeepers at Tehran's grand bazaar protesting the plummeting value of the currency, the demonstrations have since spread to dozens of cities, marking the largest wave of unrest since the 2022 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini.
A Severe Crackdown and International Condemnation
The Iranian government's response to the protests has been severe. According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 65 people have been killed and more than 2,300 have been arrested in the regime's efforts to quell the dissent. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has dismissed the protesters as "troublemakers" allegedly trying to please the United States.
In a further escalation, Iran's attorney-general stated that acts of vandalism could be treated as moharebeh, or "waging war against God," a charge that can carry the death penalty.
Global Leaders Unite in Criticism
The international community has voiced strong criticism of Tehran's actions. On Friday, January 9, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joined U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany in denouncing the crackdown. President Trump had previously warned that the United States would intervene if lethal force were used against the protesters.
The Montreal rally, therefore, served not only as a show of moral support for the Iranian people but also as a reflection of the official stance taken by the Canadian government and its allies against the regime's brutality. The event underscored how local activism in Canadian cities is directly connected to pressing international human rights issues.
