Protests in Iran raise anxiety among Canada's diaspora community

Reports of a harsh crackdown in Iran and a countrywide communications blackout have left many in Canada's Iranian community unable to reach relatives, prompting rallies and concern across Canadian cities.

A wave of protests in Iran and a reported government crackdown, together with an internet and phone blackout, have heightened concern among Iranian-Canadians. Many community members say they cannot reach family and friends inside Iran. Solidarity demonstrations and convoys have taken place in Canadian cities, including Toronto. Some local community groups are helping to relay messages between people in Iran and relatives in Canada. Known developments: - Reports say authorities in Iran have carried out a forceful response to protests and some agencies report hundreds of deaths and thousands detained. - Iranian officials have not released comprehensive casualty figures, and communications with parts of the country remain limited due to outages. - Members of Canada's Iranian diaspora have described disrupted contact with relatives and increased anxiety over the situation. - Community groups in Canada report organising rallies and helping to transfer messages between people inside Iran and family abroad. Summary: The reported crackdown and communication blackout have disrupted contact between many Canadians and relatives in Iran and have driven solidarity gatherings and concern within the diaspora. The broader trajectory of the protests and any official responses remain undetermined at this time.