Grieving relatives renew calls for justice to Trudeau 3 years after Flight PS752 shot down | 24CA News
The households of these killed when Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was shot out of the sky in 2020 are gathering in Toronto on Sunday to commemorate the tragedy’s third anniversary and renew requires justice.
At the Meridian Arts Centre, kin gathered on stage in entrance of a crowd stuffed with households and supporters. They took turns studying aloud the names and ages of the victims — one as younger as 5 — their voices faltering at occasions.
“We gather today to remember and honour our loved ones who perished so tragically,” mentioned Azadeh Heidari, the mom of 21-year-old passenger Amir Marodi.
Marodi was one of many 176 folks killed on Jan. 8, 2020, when the aircraft was shot down over Tehran by surface-to-air missiles fired by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“I thank you for standing with us over the past three years. We cherish your love and compassion as we continue our journey for justice.”
The plane, sure for Canada, carried 55 Canadians and 30 everlasting residents. Hamed Esmaeilion, president of the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims, misplaced two people who day: his nine-year-old daughter, Reera, and spouse, Parisa Eghbalian.
“Three years have passed that seemed to us like a lifetime,” mentioned Esmaeilion.
At the ceremony, he recounted the affiliation’s calls for in entrance of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and a number of other senior federal cupboard ministers.
Among the calls for is having the Canadian authorities record the whole thing of the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist group, and determine and take away from Canada the “oligarchs and operatives” of the Islamic Republic.
“The world must understand that they have no place in the international community and most importantly they do not represent the great people of Iran,” mentioned Esmaeilion.
Esmaeilion mentioned the affiliation stands with the folks of Iran protesting after Mahsa Amini’s demise. Amini died within the custody of the Islamic Republic’s morality police after she was detained for violating strict codes requiring ladies to decorate modestly in public.
“When Mahsa Amini was murdered, Iran and its people rose to voice the grief and rage that’s been burning in them for 44 years,” mentioned Esmaeilion.
“We, the members of Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims, are part of this revolution.”
Canada to ‘search for extra to do’ to maintain ‘brutal, murderous regime’ to account
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to the stage, recounting conferences with a number of sufferer households main as much as the third anniversary, saying “finding justice” is an important a part of mourning.
“This tragedy happened because of the Iranian regime’s heinous disregard for human life,” mentioned Trudeau.
“Your grief has been compounded by their refusal to be held accountable.”
Trudeau highlighted the Canadian authorities’s current initiative, together with different affected international locations — Sweden, United Kingdom and Ukraine — to make Iran reply for the crime.
On Dec. 28, Canada joined peer international locations in beginning the method to ship the Flight PS752 case to the International Court of Justice and try to pressure Iran to compensate victims’ households.
He added Canada has “permanently and forever” banned leaders from Iran from taking protected haven within the nation.
“We will continue to stand and look for even more to do to ensure that this brutal, murderous regime is held fully to account.”
He made particular point out of Mahsa Amini’s demise. Her demise sparked outrage from Iranian diaspora communities throughout the globe, together with in Canada.
“The Islamic Republic is not representative and is not indicative of the extraordinary, wonderful, warm, beautiful people of Iran who deserve so much better,” mentioned Trudeau.
People want the reality, sufferer’s husband says
Javad Soleimani mentioned he had been in Canada along with his spouse, Elnaz Nabiyi, for lower than two years when she was killed whereas on the plane.
He mentioned Canada felt like a very good place for the couple to create a greater life for themselves — “a place where people of different backgrounds can live together.”
Soleimani mentioned it is tough to speak about his spouse, whom he described as good and caring.
“I’ve tried to do my best to keep her memory alive and keep fighting for justice,” he mentioned. “We are doing this not just for ourselves but the safety of civilian airlines.”
Many of the victims’ households have spent the previous three years channelling their grief into motion. They say they’ve clocked about 28,000 hours of volunteer work looking for solutions, organizing protests and urgent for justice.
To get closure, Soleimani mentioned the households want the reality.
“We need to know all the truth: what exactly happened and why it happened,” he mentioned.
Sunday’s anniversary featured a reception and artwork gallery viewing earlier than the principle ceremony. It will probably be adopted by a public candlelight vigil at Mel Lastman Square, close to the humanities centre in Toronto’s north finish.
The affiliation, households and different supporters are additionally participating in rallies throughout Canada urging Ottawa to take a more durable stance towards Iran.
Advocates argue the transfer ought to have come sooner and that the RCMP ought to have launched a prison investigation whereas Ottawa was negotiating with Tehran.
