Report on the Fifth Anniversary of Downing of Flight PS752: Toronto

A Flower on Every Memorial

As in previous years, on January 7, 2025, following the call for “A Flower on Every Memorial,” a group of Iranians residing in Toronto, along with the families of the victims of Flight PS752, gathered at the gravesites of the victims to pay tribute by laying flowers. The families honored the memory of Neda Sedighi, Farhad Niknam, Ali Asghar Dayerani, Arad Zarei, Amir Moradi, Saharnaz Haghjou, Elsa Jadidi, Parisa Eghbalian, Rira Esmaeilion, and Niloufar Sadr.

Additionally, they visited the site where two trees were planted in memory of Neda Agha-Soltan and Sohrab Arabi, victims of the 2009 Green Movement, and paid their respects by offering flowers.

That evening, a candlelight vigil was held in Richmond Hill’s Unity Park to mark the fifth anniversary of the downing of Flight PS752. The venue, adorned with hanging lights and candles, displayed photos of the victims of the flight alongside other victims of the Islamic Republic.

Maral Gorginpour, who hosted the event, expressed gratitude to attendees for braving the severe cold. She introduced Richmond Hill Mayor David West as the first speaker.

West extended his condolences to the families and emphasized the importance of seeking justice. He reaffirmed the city’s commitment to honoring the memory of its lost residents.

Human rights and women’s rights activist Atena Daemi, a former political prisoner, spoke about the importance of seeking justice and resisting oppression. She called the tragedy a “clear and undeniable crime in front of the world” and commended the families for their perseverance:
“Despite all hardships, despite the wounds they carry, despite all the obstacles in their path, they stand firm until the perpetrators of this crime are brought to a fair trial.”

Daemi also highlighted the “Tuesdays Against Executions” campaign, which has been ongoing for fifty weeks inside Iranian prisons. She urged continued solidarity with imprisoned activists:
“Let’s not forget them, let’s not leave them alone. Let’s not just echo their voices in words, but amplify them through action.”

Hamed Esmaeilion, a board member of the association, emphasized the continuous repression, crimes, and lies of the regime. He listed numerous victims of political persecution, executions, and imprisoned artists and teachers, stating:
“Blood drips from every day in our calendar.”

Reflecting on five years of grief and struggle for justice, he described the attack on Flight PS752 as part of the Islamic Republic’s 46-year history of crimes:
“Five years ago, the most criminal people on earth tracked a passenger plane on their radar… They knew it was full of children, brides and grooms, young people.”

He also spoke of a future beyond the current regime, expressing hope for the day when the people of Iran will open the doors of prisons and reclaim their freedom.

Five Years…

On January 8, another event titled “Five Years…” was held at 3 PM in Richmond Hill’s City Hall. Families of the victims, volunteers from the association, Canadian government officials, and invited guests attended.

The ceremony began with Golrokh Aminian’s performance of “Farzand-e Iran” (Child of Iran).

Pegah Salari, the host, formally opened the event with these words:
“Five years have passed since Flight PS752 was shot down by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Five years of crime, lies, struggle, longing, resistance, and anger—told through the voices of the survivors within the Association of Families of Flight PS752. Any pursuit of justice can only be achieved through revealing the truth and holding the perpetrators accountable in the court of justice.”

Alborz Sadeghi, the association’s secretary, reiterated the families’ demands from the Canadian government, including:

• The construction of a permanent memorial for the victims of Flight PS752 in Canada,
• An independent criminal investigation by the Canadian Federal Police, and
• The issuance of arrest warrants for all those responsible for this crime.

Kourosh Doostshenas, the association’s spokesperson, highlighted key legal advancements, including:

• Advancing the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) under the Montreal Convention,
• Submitting the case to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) under the Chicago Convention, and
• Advocating for the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization in Canada.

Despite these achievements, he stressed the challenges ahead and called for urgent action toward a formal criminal investigation. He emphasized the importance of Canada’s and other affected nations’ support at the International Criminal Court (ICC), stating that justice may take time, but it must not be abandoned.

Statements from Canadian and International Officials

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to working with international allies to hold the Iranian regime accountable. He stressed the need for global aviation safety measures and ongoing pressure on international organizations for justice. He noted that this was his last time attending the event as Prime Minister but assured families of his continued support.

Ralph Goodale, Canada’s Ambassador to the UK, praised the unwavering efforts of the families and acknowledged their role in initiatives such as:

• Establishing a National Remembrance Day,
• Creating scholarship programs, and
• Advancing the Safer Skies initiative for aviation security.

He also recognized their influence in expanding sanctions and listing the IRGC as a terrorist entity in Canada. He assured that the families’ persistent focus on truth and accountability would ensure the victims’ right to justice.

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly honored the victims and described the families’ relentless pursuit of justice as inspiring. She reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to pressuring the Iranian regime and standing in solidarity with the families.

Melissa Lantsman, Member of Parliament from the Conservative Party, speaking on behalf of Pierre Poilievre’s team, criticized the lack of meaningful investigations and consequences for the perpetrators. She condemned the presence of Iranian regime officials’ children in Canada’s top universities as an insult and demanded an end to this practice. Calling the Iranian regime a threat to global peace and democracy, she reiterated her party’s commitment to cutting financial resources and dismantling the regime’s terror networks.

Yulia Kovaliv, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada, reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to seeking justice for the victims of Flight PS752, despite Russia’s ongoing aggression. She expressed gratitude for Canada’s support in both the fight against Russian dictatorship and the pursuit of justice for the victims of the downed flight.

David West, Mayor of Richmond Hill, expressed sympathy for the families and announced collaboration with the city council and the victims’ association to establish a memorial in Richmond Hill. He emphasized that the memorial would serve as both a place of remembrance and an educational tool for future generations.

Michael Parsa, Ontario Minister, acknowledged the families’ pain over the past five years and honored the memory of the victims. He commended the courage of Iranians fighting for a democratic future and stressed the need to support them in their struggle for freedom and justice.

Tribute to the Victims

In a special segment, several mothers of the victims took the stage. Azadeh Heidari, mother of Amir Moradi, and Arezou Fakour, mother of Arshia Erbab-Bahrami, delivered speeches in both Persian and English.

Another part of the ceremony included a slideshow displaying the names and photos of the victims in four segments, accompanied by live santur music by Sadaf Aminian.

Throughout the program, videos documenting different aspects of the past five years were shown, including a segment from the anniversary event in Iran’s Shahid City, where a large gathering of families and supporters took part.

Additional videos titled “Five Years of Remembrance,” “Five Years of Longing,” “Five Years of Anger,” “Five Years of Crime,” “Five Years of Lies,” “Five Years of Reslience,” and “A Chain of Crimes” were screened, reflecting events in Iran from January 2024 to January 2025.

The ceremony concluded with Golrokh Aminian’s performance of “The Impossible Dream” and final remarks by Pegah Salari.