Cancel Mohsen Namjoo’s Toronto Concert: Stand with Survivors of Sexual Assault
Cancel Mohsen Namjoo’s Toronto Concert: Stand with Survivors of Sexual Assault
The Issue
The Issue
The Queen Elizabeth Theatre (QET) has held a significant position in the cultural growth of Toronto. The QET has offered a sense of communal cohesion, creative development, and artistic expression to Torontonians for decades, while striving to uphold everyone’s safety, dignity, and emotional well-being. But that reputation is now at risk.
On September 4, 2026, QET plans to host Mohsen Namjoo, a performer who has faced serious and well-documented allegations of sexual assault, attempted rape, and abusive behavior. Namjoo has a long history of publicly reported allegations of misogyny, verbal abuse, and harassment toward members of our community.
These accusations have understandably caused distress within the Iranian community and beyond. Mohsen Namjoo has been described by numerous figures within the Iranian artistic and academic community and the diaspora as a misogynistic harasser, in connection with allegations concerning his hate speech and verbal assaults on gender and religious minorities. Despite his denial of these claims, a disturbing 17-minute audio recording attributed to him has surfaced in which he is heard making deeply offensive remarks, including minimizing the trauma of rape survivors, disparaging the #MeToo movement, and displaying explicit hatred toward a survivor who practices the Baha'i faith.
In light of the seriousness of the allegations and the controversy surrounding Mohsen Namjoo's comments, we firmly believe that providing a platform to an individual facing such serious allegations only undermines the safety and comfort of women and other sexual and gender minorities within and beyond the community.
Providing a prominent public platform to an individual facing serious allegations of sexual violence and harassment can also contribute to the normalization of conduct that survivors and community members have a right to challenge. No survivor should have to fear encountering an individual associated with serious allegations of sexual violence or harassment in a space meant to offer solace, inspiration, and joy.
In recognition of the QET’s position as a community-building and cultural-development cornerstone, we respectfully request that the venue act according to our Canadian values and foster a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible community where everyone feels welcome and valued. According to these values and principles, it is imperative to reconsider the hosting of this concert. Continuing with the event as planned could undermine the QET’s commitment to Canadian principles of safety, inclusion, and protection from sexual harassment and hatred, as well as the ongoing efforts to maintain a safe environment.
We call upon QET to:
· Cancel Mohsen Namjoo’s concert scheduled for September 4.
· Adopt a transparent and comprehensive vetting process that considers personal conduct and community impact when selecting performers.
· Collaborate with local survivor advocacy groups to ensure safety, inclusivity, and accountability in future programming.
The transformative power of art must never come at the expense of human dignity. Let’s make sure QET remains a cultural space where everyone — especially survivors — feels safe, valued, and heard.
Sign this petition today to urge Queen Elizabeth Theatre to uphold its values and reconsider providing a platform to an individual facing serious allegations of sexual violence and harassment.
Together, we can demand accountability and build a community where art uplifts, rather than harms.
Appendix
Specific Incident
On July 14, 2013, in California, after a musical event, Mr. Namjoo was alleged to have made an unsolicited advance toward a woman, identified as “Mahi,” under the guise of hospitality. His unwanted and aggressive behavior was reported to have culminated in a physical altercation and an immediate expulsion from the residence. Mahi, supported by the host, subsequently reportedly filed a police complaint against Namjoo for sexual assault and attempted rape. Iran International's investigative reporters documented this incident and other allegations against Namjoo in May 2021.
Professional Misconduct
In 2014, Mohsen Namjoo was accused of attempting to leverage his position of power by inviting a co-actor, Bushra, to his hotel room. He was also accused of attempting to bar her from the project and hinder her artistic pursuits upon her refusal. There have also been reported instances where Namjoo allegedly sent threatening emails, one of which was addressed to an Iran International program presenter.
Disturbing Remarks
In April 2021, an audio tape attributed to Namjoo surfaced where Namjoo derided his critics and made troubling statements about consent. He suggested that a woman's “no” does not necessarily mean refusal and recounted a personal incident highlighting what critics have characterized as coercive behavior. This audio, lasting seventeen minutes, contained sexist, misogynistic remarks and statements that have been characterized by critics as hate speech.
Referenced Sources
IranWire — reporting on the allegations and audio recording: https://iranwire.com/en/features/69391/
Iran International — reporting on the 2013 incident and other allegations: https://youtu.be/xnqV-1xj2D8?list=PLbGAQuIyMZJSx4g45yXOO6ER6n5V9gxsk
Iran International — additional allegations: https://youtu.be/5sh8nc8T0rM?list=PLbGAQuIyMZJSx4g45yXOO6ER6n5V9gxsk
Audio recording referenced in the petition: https://youtu.be/fwQ2G6AvER8?si=MBK8O3AH5ftUGjC0
51
The Issue
The Issue
The Queen Elizabeth Theatre (QET) has held a significant position in the cultural growth of Toronto. The QET has offered a sense of communal cohesion, creative development, and artistic expression to Torontonians for decades, while striving to uphold everyone’s safety, dignity, and emotional well-being. But that reputation is now at risk.
On September 4, 2026, QET plans to host Mohsen Namjoo, a performer who has faced serious and well-documented allegations of sexual assault, attempted rape, and abusive behavior. Namjoo has a long history of publicly reported allegations of misogyny, verbal abuse, and harassment toward members of our community.
These accusations have understandably caused distress within the Iranian community and beyond. Mohsen Namjoo has been described by numerous figures within the Iranian artistic and academic community and the diaspora as a misogynistic harasser, in connection with allegations concerning his hate speech and verbal assaults on gender and religious minorities. Despite his denial of these claims, a disturbing 17-minute audio recording attributed to him has surfaced in which he is heard making deeply offensive remarks, including minimizing the trauma of rape survivors, disparaging the #MeToo movement, and displaying explicit hatred toward a survivor who practices the Baha'i faith.
In light of the seriousness of the allegations and the controversy surrounding Mohsen Namjoo's comments, we firmly believe that providing a platform to an individual facing such serious allegations only undermines the safety and comfort of women and other sexual and gender minorities within and beyond the community.
Providing a prominent public platform to an individual facing serious allegations of sexual violence and harassment can also contribute to the normalization of conduct that survivors and community members have a right to challenge. No survivor should have to fear encountering an individual associated with serious allegations of sexual violence or harassment in a space meant to offer solace, inspiration, and joy.
In recognition of the QET’s position as a community-building and cultural-development cornerstone, we respectfully request that the venue act according to our Canadian values and foster a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible community where everyone feels welcome and valued. According to these values and principles, it is imperative to reconsider the hosting of this concert. Continuing with the event as planned could undermine the QET’s commitment to Canadian principles of safety, inclusion, and protection from sexual harassment and hatred, as well as the ongoing efforts to maintain a safe environment.
We call upon QET to:
· Cancel Mohsen Namjoo’s concert scheduled for September 4.
· Adopt a transparent and comprehensive vetting process that considers personal conduct and community impact when selecting performers.
· Collaborate with local survivor advocacy groups to ensure safety, inclusivity, and accountability in future programming.
The transformative power of art must never come at the expense of human dignity. Let’s make sure QET remains a cultural space where everyone — especially survivors — feels safe, valued, and heard.
Sign this petition today to urge Queen Elizabeth Theatre to uphold its values and reconsider providing a platform to an individual facing serious allegations of sexual violence and harassment.
Together, we can demand accountability and build a community where art uplifts, rather than harms.
Appendix
Specific Incident
On July 14, 2013, in California, after a musical event, Mr. Namjoo was alleged to have made an unsolicited advance toward a woman, identified as “Mahi,” under the guise of hospitality. His unwanted and aggressive behavior was reported to have culminated in a physical altercation and an immediate expulsion from the residence. Mahi, supported by the host, subsequently reportedly filed a police complaint against Namjoo for sexual assault and attempted rape. Iran International's investigative reporters documented this incident and other allegations against Namjoo in May 2021.
Professional Misconduct
In 2014, Mohsen Namjoo was accused of attempting to leverage his position of power by inviting a co-actor, Bushra, to his hotel room. He was also accused of attempting to bar her from the project and hinder her artistic pursuits upon her refusal. There have also been reported instances where Namjoo allegedly sent threatening emails, one of which was addressed to an Iran International program presenter.
Disturbing Remarks
In April 2021, an audio tape attributed to Namjoo surfaced where Namjoo derided his critics and made troubling statements about consent. He suggested that a woman's “no” does not necessarily mean refusal and recounted a personal incident highlighting what critics have characterized as coercive behavior. This audio, lasting seventeen minutes, contained sexist, misogynistic remarks and statements that have been characterized by critics as hate speech.
Referenced Sources
IranWire — reporting on the allegations and audio recording: https://iranwire.com/en/features/69391/
Iran International — reporting on the 2013 incident and other allegations: https://youtu.be/xnqV-1xj2D8?list=PLbGAQuIyMZJSx4g45yXOO6ER6n5V9gxsk
Iran International — additional allegations: https://youtu.be/5sh8nc8T0rM?list=PLbGAQuIyMZJSx4g45yXOO6ER6n5V9gxsk
Audio recording referenced in the petition: https://youtu.be/fwQ2G6AvER8?si=MBK8O3AH5ftUGjC0
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Petition created on August 19, 2026