Wall of human hair built in downtown Vancouver in solidarity with Iranian protesters
Hundreds gathered just outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on Saturday to show support for the ongoing anti-government movement in Iran.
People around the world have been protesting for nearly three months in hopes of overthrowing the country's current regime.
Dozens of those who attended Saturday snipped a lock of their hair and displayed it on a wall that spelled out one of the movement's slogans: "Women. Life. Freedom."
Tahmineh Sadeghi, one of the organizers of the weekly protests, participated in the initiative, which was set up by the YWCA Metro Vancouver.
“If this hair causes violence against women, I don't need this hair," she said, adding that the gesture is a symbol of rebelling against the Islamic Republic regime in Iran.
Janice Stevenson also took part in the initiative.
"It hurts me that there are people out there who can’t do as they please. It does bother me, because I’ve been so free my whole life," she said.
“We have the ability to cut our hair and really create a powerful symbol of support. We are showing up to say that ‘We hear you. We see you. We support you,'" said Amy Juschka of YWCA Metro Vancouver.
Sadeghi said the gesture made her and her community feel seen.
“I feel so encouraged. I feel like our voices are getting heard, finally, in Vancouver," she said, adding that she appreciates everyone who has attended the weekly protests, which have been going on for about 11 weeks.
“We’re going to keep going until women and people in Iran keep going. We want to be their voice because their internet has been shut down in Iran right now. They hardly can send the news out there. So we have to be their voice," said Sadeghi.
More than 300 people have been killed in the unrest, according to the country's government.
But human rights activists say the true number is much higher. They estimate more than 500 people have been killed and more than 18,000 have been detained, including journalists, activists and musicians.
It's unclear how long the fight will continue. Protesters said they refuse to back down and are willing to risk everything to see change in the country.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stamp prices rise for the third time in five years amid financial woes for Canada Post
Canada Post is increasing stamp prices for the third time since 2019, a move the Crown corporation says is a "reality" of its sales-based revenue structure.
BREAKING Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, claims he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women in Winnipeg, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Trudeau Liberals to unveil new bill Monday aimed at countering foreign interference
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc will be tabling legislation on Monday aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada. Federal officials have scheduled a technical briefing on the incoming bill for Monday afternoon.
WATCH Avian flu: Risk to humans grows as outbreaks spread, warns expert
H5N1 or avian flu is decimating wildlife around the world and is now spreading among cattle in the United States, sparking concerns about 'pandemic potential' for humans. Now a health expert is urging Canada to scale up surveillance north of the border.
Human remains were found at a former Hitler base, but decay prevents determining the cause of death
Polish prosecutors have discontinued an investigation into human skeletons found at a site where German dictator Adolf Hitler and other Nazi leaders spent time during the Second World War because the advanced state of decay made it impossible to determine the cause of death, a spokesman said Monday.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Ontario MPP asked again to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh, Speaker loosens ban
An Ontario MPP was asked again to leave the Ontario legislature on Monday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that was banned by the Speaker last month due to its political symbolism.
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Trump fined US$1,000 for gag order violation in hush money case as judge warns of possible jail time
The judge presiding over Donald Trump's hush money trial fined him US$1,000 on Monday for violating his gag order once again and sternly warned the former president that additional violations could result in jail time.