'Say her name:' Montrealers mark one-year since death of Mahsa Amini

The death of Kurdish-Iranian Amini, 22, triggered weeks of nationwide protests in her home country and supporting demonstrations around the world in September 2022. On Sept. 13, 2022, Amini was arrested by Iran’s so-called “morality police” for not wearing her hijab properly. She died three days later.

“Mahsa Amini, say her name."

That was one of several chants that filled the air in Montreal on Saturday as people around the world gathered to remember Mahsa Amini, who died one year ago to the day.

The death of Kurdish-Iranian Amini, 22, triggered weeks of nationwide protests in her home country and supporting demonstrations around the world in September 2022.

On Sept. 13, 2022, Amini was arrested by Iran’s so-called “morality police” for not wearing her hijab properly. She died three days later.

While authorities said she suffered a heart attack, Amini's supporters believe she was beaten by police and died as a result of her injuries.

Her death sparked worldwide conversations and demonstrations on women’s rights, setting in motion the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. Iranians called for the overthrow of Iran’s four-decade-old Islamic theocracy, which has ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The uprising was met with a violent crackdown in which more than 500 people were killed and in excess of 22,000 others were detained, according to rights groups.