The city council in Canada’s capital of Ottawa officially renamed a section of Metcalfe Street on Wednesday, outside the former Iranian Embassy, as Mahsa Amini Street, after the 22-year-old woman whose death while in police custody sparked months of protests in the Islamic Republic.
B’nai Brith Canada welcomed the move, noting it came following advocacy by the organization.
B’nai Brith had circulated a petition in honor of Amini and the thousands of brave protestors who have been imprisoned, tortured and killed for demonstrating against the human-rights abuses of the Iranian regime.
“This is more than a symbolic gesture. Today, the City of Ottawa has taken a stance and affirmed its commitment to human rights at home and abroad,” said Michael Mostyn, Chief Executive Officer of B’nai Brith Canada.
“It is gratifying to know that B’nai Brith played a role in this development. We thank all our supporters and friends who signed B’nai Brith’s petition, which helped propel the Council forward in making this important decision,” he added.
Renaming a section of Metcalfe Street is only one element of the motion that passed Wednesday. Ottawa City Councillor Ariel Troster, who co-sponsored the motion in its entirety with fellow City Councillor Theresa Kavanagh last month, has acknowledged B’nai Brith’s key role in renaming the street.
“Thanks to local Iranian women activists and B'nai Brith Canada for your advocacy,” Troster tweeted.
“As Canada’s capital,” Mostyn said, “Ottawa’s action serves as an inspiration for other municipalities seeking to stand with Iranian-Canadians supporting their friends and family in Iran protesting for fundamental freedoms. Iranians have suffered for decades under brutal theocratic rule. Renaming the street outside the former Iranian Embassy sends a strong message that Canadians support the people of Iran."
Appeals to rename the section of Metcalfe Street were put forth by a number of groups in support of B’nai Brith’s advocacy and petition. They included the Council of Iranian Canadians, Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Jamaica Association of Montreal, Network of Azerbaijani Canadians, International Centre for Human Rights Canada, Justice 88, Federation of Filipino Canadian Associations, Greater Toronto Area Kurdish House, Antigua and Barbuda Association of Montreal, the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, and the Iranian Student Association-University of Ottawa.
“We are extremely pleased that Ottawa City Council and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe voted in favour of this important motion,” said David Granovsky, B’nai Brith Canada’s Director of Government Relations. “We celebrate the Council’s vote. Ottawa standing for human rights is a beautiful sight.”
Protests have gripped Iran following the September 16 death of Amini, who had been arrested by the Iranian morality police for failing to wear a head covering as required of women in Iran.
Hundreds of protesters have been killed in the nationwide unrest, including dozens of minors. In addition, Iranian authorities have executed several people who were convicted of involvement in the protests.