On Saturday I bumped into a large march in support of Donald Trump, war and monarchy. Much of the Iranian diaspora in Canada has jumped headlong into the Zionist/US regime change campaign that could have an apocalyptic impact.
Enroute to an anti-genocide demonstration at the Israeli consulate in Montreal, I joined several thousand members of the Iranian community protesting in the bitter cold. Most placards — handed out from a truck — had a picture of Reza Pahlavi, son of the deposed Shah. His father reclaimed power after the US/UK, with Canadian backing, overthrew elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953. One placard read simply “King Reza Pahlavi” while probably the most common pre-printed sign noted, “Final battle Pahlavi returns”. At the front of the march two people held an Iranian Monarchist Association of Montreal banner.
The march was explicitly pro-Donald Trump/US with more subtle support for the Zionist entity. I saw at least one Israeli flag and the van with the sound system had a US flag attached to it. Many placards had photos of Donald Trump and Pahlavi. One I saw with Trump and Pahlavi included the slogan “united for freedom”. The MIGA (Make Iran Great Again) slogan abounded.
The march was in favour of foreign intervention. Many placards noted, “USA hear our plea. President Trump help Iran”. One hand made sign stated “Activate #R2P FOR IRAN.” Responsibility to Protect (R2P) is the liberal imperialist doctrine used to justify the disastrous 2011 NATO war on Libya and 2004 US/Canada/France coup in Haiti.
I only spent 20 minutes with the protest, but hyperbolic claims were widespread. One placard noted, “This is GENOCIDE”. Several thousand were recently killed in what appears to be a mix of legitimate protests/foreign destabilization, but who is targeted for genocide?
A woman with the Trump/Pahlavi “united for freedom” placard told me and another questioner that Iran’s government paid women in Canada to wear the Hijab. That’s only slightly less outlandish than the claim Iran funded the anti-genocide student divestment encampments at Canadian universities.
As an atheist, religious rule is anathema and (theoretically at least) I strongly support those seeking to overturn religious rule. But many Iranian Canadians’ opposition to theocracy dovetails with western Islamophobia and chauvinism. Former Ontario MPP Goldie Ghamari offers a crass version of this orientalist, Islamophobic, outlook. A recent Ghamari post highlights her colonialist, anti-Islam outlook. She noted:
When Indigenous People in Canada reject Christianity and go back to their religious roots, it’s called ‘Truth and Reconciliation’. When Indigenous People in Iran (aka Iranians) reject Islam and go back to their pre-Islamic religious roots, we’re accused of ‘Islamophobia’. Why the double standard?”
The analogy with Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation — largely about land theft, usurping political sovereignty and destroying indigenous culture/langue/religion — is quite the stretch. But it draws together colonial denialism in Canada with imperialist thinking towards Iran.
Saturday’s protesters were clearly buoyed by Empire/Zionist power. They benefit from the large scale foreign-backed media/NGO/opposition ecosystem and Trump deploying a “massive armada” to target Iran after kidnapping Venezuela’s president. Israel’s ability to weaken its adversaries in the region, has further emboldened them. “This is the final battle — Pahlavi will return!” was the main chant at the march.
Restoration of a corrupt, but pro-US monarchy. In 2026. And some who claim to be ‘left wing’ cheer this on. Amazing.
You must be logged in to post a comment.