On the third anniversary of Mahsa (Jina) Amini’s death in Iran, Vancouver’s Iranian diaspora once again gathered to honor her memory and to reaffirm their call for justice, democracy, and human rights.

Two separate commemorative events took place in the city. One was organized by royalist-leaning groups, including Mission for My Homeland and the Lion & Sun Association. The other was led by a coalition of political parties, human rights organizations, and grassroots networks. While differences in political vision and strategy kept the gatherings apart, both were united in their recognition of Amini’s legacy as a symbol of the Women, Life, Freedom movement.

At the coalition gathering, speakers and organizations emphasized that holding separate events was, in part, an attempt to avoid conflict and to prevent the Iranian regime from exploiting divisions among the diaspora. The coalition included groups such as No to the Death Penalty Campaign, Solidarity Iranians Vancouver, Republicans 25 Shahrivar, Kurdish Democratic Party, and others.

From the stage, speakers delivered strong messages of solidarity. They recalled that Amini’s death under police custody in Tehran sparked a global outcry and energized a historic movement in Iran—one that continues to demand women’s equality, human rights, and political freedoms.

One speaker noted that, even inside Iran, women have already forced visible change, such as a shift in social norms around dress. “Freedom for women,” the message emphasized, “is the foundation of freedom for all.”

A message read on behalf of Hamgami for a Secular Democratic Republic in Iran underscored three guiding principles for the future of the country: civil rights, secularism, and decentralized governance.

A separate message from Kurdistan’s Families Seeking Justice demanded accountability for regime officials and highlighted the plight of political prisoners, particularly women, who face execution and harsh conditions.

Throughout the afternoon, the names of slain protesters such as Sarina Esmaeilzadeh, Nika Shakarami, and young Kian Pirfalak were invoked, tying Vancouver’s commemoration to a broader call for justice.

The organizers also issued a resolution, outlining specific demands: the release of political prisoners, the abolition of the death penalty and torture, equality for women and ethnic minorities, separation of religion from state institutions, and economic justice.

While divisions within the diaspora were evident, the Vancouver events also reflected a shared determination: to keep Amini’s name alive, to remind the world of the cost of resistance in Iran, and to call for unity in advancing human rights.

For many in attendance, the anniversary was not only a remembrance but also a civic duty—an insistence that Vancouver, with its large Iranian community, remain a visible part of the global movement for justice in Iran.

Journalist: Majid Mahichi

Skyrise Media Society