Note: The Kavanagh/Troster Motion of which Notice was previously given at the December 14, 2023, City Council meeting was replaced with the following revised motion pursuant to Subsection 59(5) of the Procedure By-law.
WHEREAS on September 16th, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman named Mahsa Amini was beaten, tortured and murdered by Iran’s morality police while in custody for after wearing her hijab improperly; and
WHEREAS the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979 has led to increasingly repressive restrictions on women’s rights, including the enforcement of the mandatory wearing of the hijab; and
WHEREAS Although the compulsory dress codes are the most visible signs of state-sanctioned repression of women in Iran under the current regime, it’s not the only one. Examples of other forms of repression include systemic discrimination by denying equal rights for child custody, inheritance, divorce and the need for husband’s permission to own a passport and leave the country; and
WHEREAS Islamic regime’s civil law allows forced marriage of children at 13 and 15 years old for girls and boys, respectively; and
WHEREAS, married women and girls often face additional abuse, restrictions on their movements and a lack of national protections against domestic violence; and
WHEREAS women, men, students and children across Iran have launched a public campaign known as “Zan, Zendegi, Azadi”, translated as “Woman, Life, Freedom” to call for downfall of the regime, as they it as the only solution to earn freedom, justice and equality for all Iranians; and
WHEREAS the Iranian regime is engaged in a massive and brutal crackdown on protesters, with international press reporting an average of one child murder a day, upwards of 184,000 arrests and detentions that allow for the death penalty as punishment. As of December 10th, one protester is executed, and several others are in death row; and
WHEREAS the protests have powerful international support from Iranians and nationals living in the diaspora and around the world, including journalists, educators, lawyers and activists in Berlin, Toronto and Los Angeles, to name a few; and
WHEREAS this movement, which has now approached its fourth month with no signs of abating, is calling for continued and increased demonstration of international solidarity and support; and
WHEREAS an estimated 400,000 Iranian-Canadians have chosen to call Canada home because of its values of equal rights for women, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of association and democratic rights; and
WHEREAS the CSIS is actively investigating several death threats and intimidations from the Islamic republic state actors against individuals in Canada to silence those who speak out publicly against regime; and
WHEREAS Canada has levelled economic sanctions on the regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by banning individuals and entities linked to it; and
WHEREAS Canada is leading an international campaign to remove Iran from the “United Nations Commission on the Status of Women”; and
WHEREAS Iranian Canadians living in Ottawa have called for Ottawa City Council to make an open statement of solidarity with the Iranian women, men and children who are fighting for their democratic and human rights in Iran and:
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT Ottawa City Council go on record as standing in solidarity with the people of Iran who are fighting for their freedom and fundamental human rights; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City of Ottawa support the symbolic installation of “Mahsa Amini” street plaques at the intersections in proximity to the section of Metcalfe Street between Somerset Street West and MacLaren Street as the building served as the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is located in this block; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commemorative street blades to be installed on Metcalfe Street be installed for an initial period of one year, subject to review and extension by Council; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Mayor and Ottawa City Council to demand the law enforcement agencies to ensure safety and security of Canadian citizens who are speaking out loudly against the Islamic Regime.
The Motion Carried with Councillors G. Darouze, A. Hubley,
M. Luloff and L. Dudas dissenting.
Councillor W. Lo dissented on the resolution regarding the installation of street plaques.