麻豆影视

Skip to main content

Trudeau reaffirms Canada's commitment to seeking justice at Flight PS752 memorial

Share
TORONTO -

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave an emotional speech at a Toronto memorial Sunday marking three years since the Iranian military shot down Flight PS752, stressing that Canada will continue seeking justice until a regime he described as 鈥渂rutal鈥 is held to account.

鈥淭hree years ago, Toronto-bound flight PS752 was shot down by Iranian missiles,鈥 Trudeau said. 鈥淲ith it, 176 souls were lost. People you loved. People you grieve for everyday.鈥

In January 2020, flight PS752, a Ukraine International Airlines jetliner, was shot down shortly after its takeoff from Tehran. The majority of its passengers, including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents, were heading to Canada via Kyiv, Ukraine.

Families of the victims are partaking in rallies across Canada this Sunday, from Vancouver to St. John鈥檚, N.L.

In Toronto, the marquee event began with a reception and art gallery viewing at 11 a.m., followed by an official ceremony hosted by the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims.

Trudeau emphasized to those in attendance, which included the families of victims, that the government is working to 鈥渉old the Iranian regime accountable for unlawfully and horrifically shooting down the passenger flight. We are here to seek justice for the victims and the families.鈥

Numerous officials and politicians were in attendance, including federal Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre, Toronto Mayor John Tory and Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Trudeau described meeting with grieving family members on Friday, including a mother whose daughter had been moving to Canada 鈥渂ecause of the challenges she faced as a woman in Iran,鈥 and a single father who lost his only son when the plane went down.

One family member met with Trudeau on a video call from his current home in Australia.

鈥淚t was a reminder that the downing of PS752 is not just a Canadian tragedy, although we have mourned it across this country as a Canadian tragedy,鈥 Trudeau said. 鈥淧eople around the world feel this loss every single day.鈥

He added that the government has 鈥渙pened a pathway to permanent residency鈥 to reunite relatives of the PS752 flight victims who wish to come to Canada.

Trudeau highlighted the need for there to be accountability, noting that the federal government recently joined with peer countries to request that Iran submits to binding arbitration so it can be held accountable for the missiles launched by Iran鈥檚 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that took down the flight.

, starts a countdown 鈥 after a six-month period, one of the plaintiff countries can take Iran to the International Court of Justice to attempt to force Iran to compensate victims鈥 families.

Trudeau confirmed that Canada would be taking that step if the Iranian regime did not comply within six months.

鈥淲hen you lose someone so senselessly, finding justice is a part of mourning. We need closure in order to heal,鈥 he said.

Trudeau appeared emotional at times as he spoke, and the speech also garnered strong responses from those gathered.

At one point, as Trudeau condemned 鈥淚ran鈥檚 refusal to be held accountable,鈥 a voice spoke up from the crowd.

鈥淚slamic Republic, Mr. Prime Minister,鈥 someone called out. 鈥淣ot Iran.鈥

鈥淲ell said,鈥 Trudeau replied. His response was greeted with applause.

He continued on to praise the strength of the Iranian-Canadian community and others affected by the tragedy of Flight PS752 across the globe.

鈥淭he Islamic Republic is not representative and not indicative of the extraordinary, wonderful, warm, brilliant people of Iran, who deserve so much more,鈥 Trudeau said, nearly drowned out by another swell of applause.

He added that when he visited the art exhibit set up Sunday for the memorial, he was struck by the depiction of the 鈥渕any crimes of the Iranian regime and its human rights abuses.鈥

He emphasized that Canada stands in support of Iranian citizens who are struggling under the current regime, touching upon the rounds of nationwide protests that began in mid-September after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died following an arrest by Iran鈥檚 morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab incorrectly. Many of the protests have centred around women鈥檚 rights and have resulted in a serious crackdown by the Iranian regime, which has apparently included the use of tear gas, shooting at residential homes and surveillance.

鈥淐anada and all Canadians stand with the women of Iran, schoolgirls to grandmothers, and all other people of Iran who are demanding to live their lives free of persecution,鈥 he said.

A chant went up in the audience, with the crowd repeating 鈥淲omen, life, freedom鈥 in English 鈥 one of the main slogans of the protest movement within Iran.

Trudeau repeated the slogan back to the crowd in Persian, sparking cheers and another round of chanting.

Trudeau also mentioned that Canada placed economic sanctions on 62 Iranian individuals and 25 entities last fall, stating that these individuals have been banned 鈥渇rom ever being able to take safe haven in Canada,鈥 and that they are looking for other ways 鈥渢o ensure that this brutal, murderous regime is held fully to account.鈥

The government has faced criticisms on its handling of Flight PS752, with some advocates saying Canada acted too slowly in pressing Iran for accountability.

The Iranian regime has changed its story several times regarding the shooting down of the flight, shifting from portraying the incident as an accident to claiming at one point that the passenger plane had been moving suspiciously.

Ottawa argued that they needed to allow time for negotiations with Tehran before bringing the case to a higher level.

Speaking directly to the families of those who died when the plane was shot down, Trudeau ended his speech by saying that Canada shares in their sadness.

鈥淥n this day, and every day, we continue to be here with you and we continue to be here for you,鈥 he said.

------

With files from the Canadian Press. 

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Two nephews of the beloved Harry R. Hamilton share stories about his life and legacy.

The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

Local Spotlight

For the second year in a row, the 鈥楪ift-a-Family鈥 campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts 鈥 not for themselves, but for those in need.

A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.

Stay Connected