Members of Edmonton's Iranian community are trapped in a state of agonizing uncertainty, their hope mingled with dread as they await news of loved ones in Iran. For two weeks, millions of Iranians have taken to the streets in protest, only to be met with a violent crackdown and a near-total communications blackout imposed by the Islamic Republic's regime.
A Rally of Hope and Desperation in Edmonton
This past Sunday, the anxiety felt across the diaspora coalesced into a public demonstration. Approximately 300 people gathered at Wilbert McIntyre Park in Edmonton, waving the Iranian flag and standing in solidarity with what organizers called a democratic uprising. The rally supported a recent "Call To Action" from Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, which reportedly spurred millions to protest across Iran on January 11, 2026, demanding regime change.
Signs held high bore messages like "Make Iran great again," "We trust Pahlavi," "Free political prisoners," and a poignant plea to the world: "Iranians are being killed, the world must act." Another sign highlighted the information vacuum: "No internet, Iran revolution be our voice."
The Chilling Silence of a Digital Blackout
For local Iranians like Shay Majdnia, the rally was an outlet for profound fear. She explained that the regime's decision to sever internet access has isolated people within Iran and severed the lifeline for families abroad. "Cutting internet access isolates people, limits the flow of verified information, and makes it difficult for families to stay in contact during an already tense situation," Majdnia said.
Her last contact with family in Iran was on Thursday before the blackout. A WhatsApp message asking if they were safe remains unticked and unanswered. This silence is terrifyingly familiar; a similar blackout in November 2019 preceded a documented mass killing by state forces.
"We believe, because that had happened in 2019... there was a mass killing," Majdnia stated. "So far, this is what has been published, that 2,000 people have been killed, and we know the numbers are way bigger than this." She estimates between 7,000 and 8,000 expatriate Iranians live in Edmonton, with many more in Calgary, part of a national community of nearly 300,000 counted in 2021.
Community Fears and Calls for Action
Majdnia's personal worry extends beyond her immediate family to encompass the young protesters on the streets of Iran. "Every (member of the) young generation that are on the street, they are my family. I'm worried about them more than mine," she expressed, condemning the regime's brutality. "This is how brutal this regime is. They don't care about people. What they care is just being in power and their power means shutting the people down, killing the people."
The primary demands from the diaspora are clear: an end to the internet blackout and fundamental regime change. These are seen as essential to stopping the violence and re-establishing contact with terrified families.
The Canadian government is also monitoring the situation closely. On the Thursday before the protests escalated, Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement calling for continued accountability for Iran's downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 in 2020, a stark reminder of the regime's actions. For Edmonton's Iranians, the current crisis is a painful new chapter in a long struggle, played out in fearful silence and distant rallies for freedom.
