A demonstration took place in downtown Vancouver Saturday afternoon (Dec. 10).
Protesters gathered at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl'e7énḵ Square (formerly known as the Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza) to rally in solidarity with protesters in Iran.
Vancouver's Persian community and supporters have been rallying every weekend since news of the death of a woman, Mahsa Amini, held by Iran's morality police sparked protests worldwide.
Previous protests saw protesters cutting up their Iranian identity cards and chopping off their hair.
On the International Day for Human Rights (Dec. 10), locals marched through downtown Vancouver once again, starting at Vancouver City Hall and heading to the Vancouver Art Gallery.
There, protesters held a moving demonstration. Several people stood on wooden stools with their hands tied behind their back and black blindfolds over their eyes. Around their neck hung a screen with a timer, signifying the time left for imprisoned protesters in Iran that have received death sentences.
This week, Iran had carried out the first known execution of a protester arrested during the month-long demonstrations.
Mohsen Shekari was executed Thursday (Dec. 8) and was accused of blocking a street in Tehran and attacking with a machete a member of the security forces, who required stitches for his wounds, said the Mizan news agency which is run by Iran's judiciary.
Activists say that at least a dozen people so far have received death sentences over their involvement in the demonstrations and warn that others could also be put to death in the near future.
With files from The Associated Press.
