Thousands rally in Toronto to back Iran protests and call for regime change
Thousands gathered at Sankofa Square on Sunday to back Iranians protesting an economic crisis and demanding political change, part of repeated demonstrations across Canada.
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By Torontoer Staff
Thousands of people gathered at Sankofa Square in Toronto on Sunday to show solidarity with demonstrators in Iran and to demand the collapse of the Islamic regime. The rally was one of several recent demonstrations in Toronto and across Canada in response to a violent, nationwide uprising in Iran.
Protests in Iran began on Dec. 28 amid a deepening economic crisis and a sharp fall in the national currency, and they have since broadened into calls for systemic political change. Demonstrators in Toronto reiterated those demands, and some supporters voiced backing for the return of Iran’s exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi.
Why people rallied
Organizers and participants said the Toronto rally aimed to raise awareness of the scale of unrest inside Iran and to press for international attention. Although the initial protests focused on economic grievances, demonstrators on the ground in Iran and in diaspora communities have shifted toward calls for regime change, citing longstanding political repression alongside the immediate economic crisis.
Speakers at the Toronto event highlighted both humanitarian concerns and political demands. Some attendees called for international pressure on the Iranian government, including sanctions and other measures, while others urged humanitarian support for civilians affected by the crackdown.
Timeline and context in Iran
Mass demonstrations began in late December after mounting economic pressures and the collapse of the Iranian currency. What started as protests over the cost of living and economic mismanagement expanded rapidly into wider anti-government action. Opposition voices inside and outside Iran have intensified demands for political reform or a full change of government.
Political figures in exile, including Reza Pahlavi, have drawn support from segments of the protest movement who see a restored monarchy or alternative leadership as a possible path away from the current system. That position remains contentious both inside Iran and among the global Iranian diaspora.
Casualties and claims
The Iranian government has said more than 3,000 people have been killed since the protests began. Other organisations monitoring the unrest have given much higher estimates, with some putting the death toll as high as 36,500. Those figures have not been independently verified, and international observers have reported restricted access to information inside Iran amid the crackdown.
Human rights groups and some foreign governments have expressed concern about reports of violent suppression of demonstrations. At the Toronto rally, grief for victims and calls for accountability were recurring themes.
How Canada has responded
The Toronto gathering was part of a wider pattern of public demonstrations across Canada over recent weeks. Activists and members of the Iranian-Canadian community have organised rallies, vigils and information events to maintain attention on the unfolding crisis and to urge Canadian political leaders to take stronger diplomatic or humanitarian steps.
Some participants at Sunday’s rally expressed support for Western intervention in Iran, reflecting a range of views among the diaspora about the role foreign governments should play. Canadian officials have not announced changes to policy in direct response to the protests, but political pressure to act has increased in some quarters.
What protesters asked for in Toronto
- An end to the current Islamic regime in Iran
- International pressure and accountability for violence against protesters
- Support for political alternatives, including backing for figures such as Reza Pahlavi among some attendees
- Humanitarian assistance and protections for civilians affected by the unrest
Demonstrations in Toronto and other Canadian cities are likely to continue as long as unrest persists in Iran and as diaspora communities press for diplomatic and humanitarian responses. Event organisers have said they plan more gatherings to keep public focus on the situation.
The Canadian Press contributed reporting to this story.
For now, Toronto’s rallies are serving both as a platform for solidarity and as a means for Iranian-Canadians to shape public debate at home about how Canada and other governments should respond to the crisis in Iran.
IranProtestsTorontoHuman rightsReza Pahlavi
