Protests erupt in North America on the third anniversary of Iran’s downing of Flight PS752
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Alaina
- . January 9, 2023
- . Update: January 9, 2023 3:24 pm
Protests took place in North America on Sunday to mark the third anniversary of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 (PS752), which killed all 176 passengers.
Protesters demanded justice for the victims and their families. They held rallies across North America, including Portland, Oregon, San Diego, California, Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. Protests also took place in other US states. People also rallied in Canadian cities, including Toronto, Kingston, Halifax and Regina.
The Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims organised the protests. The Association reportedly said, “We are determined to know why IRGC’s missiles shot down a commercial flight.”
On January 8, 2020, the Kyiv-bound Boeing 737 plane crashed after takeoff from Tehran, the capital of Iran. The incident killed 176 passengers, mostly Canadian citizens, and crew on board. The plane was reportedly shot down by Iranian missiles.
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Later on, the Iranian officials said that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force shot down the plane after it was misidentified as an American cruise missile by an air defence operator.
In December 2020, a coalition of four countries – Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom – asked Iran to address the downing of the airliner. The Coalition demanded a transparent and credible explanation of the downing of Flight PS752.
On Sunday, Justin Pierre James Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, said that his country would be taking measure steps to bring the Iranian regime to court if they fail to comply within six months. He said that he would bring Iran to the International Court of Justice.
Hamed Esmaeilion, head of the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims, praised Canada for imposing sanctions on some Iranian individuals and entities over the downing of the airliner. He also lost his wife and daughter in the tragic crash.
