Petition to the Government of Canada Regarding the Prohibition of “Quds Day” Demonstrations

To the Government of Canada and the Honourable Members of Parliament,

We, the undersigned, respectfully draw attention to the annual event known as “Quds Day.”

“Quds Day” was established in 1979 by Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He declared the last Friday of the month of Ramadan as a day for demonstrations in support of what he called the “liberation of Palestine,” encouraging followers of the Iranian regime to take to the streets.

However, in practice, Quds Day has long functioned as an ideological and political instrument of the Islamic Republic, used to export extremism and mobilize networks aligned with the regime both inside Iran and internationally.

Over the past several decades, gatherings associated with Quds Day in various countries have frequently become platforms for extremist slogans, hate speech, and expressions of support for armed militant groups in the Middle East. Rather than promoting peace or human rights, these events have often served as propaganda platforms for the Iranian regime and its affiliated organizations.

In recent years, several countries have begun reassessing the security and societal implications of permitting such demonstrations. For example, authorities in the United Kingdom have taken steps to halt or prevent Quds Day events following growing concerns related to hate speech, public safety, and the presence of symbols connected to extremist groups.

In Canada, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—a central pillar of the Iranian regime’s regional strategy—has been formally designated as a terrorist organization. The IRGC has played a leading role in exporting the very ideology and networks that Quds Day events promote.

Given that Quds Day itself was established by the leadership of the Islamic Republic and serves as a vehicle for advancing its political agenda, its continued organization within Canada raises serious concerns about consistency with Canadian values, public safety, and existing counter-terrorism designations.

Canada is widely respected as a country committed to human rights, pluralism, and the rejection of extremism. Allowing events that may promote the propaganda of a regime-linked ideological campaign risks turning Canadian public spaces into platforms for foreign political influence and the spread of hostility and division.

Therefore, we call upon the Government of Canada to:

Review the nature, purpose, and activities associated with Quds Day demonstrations in Canada.
Assess whether these events are consistent with Canada’s terrorism designation of the IRGC and with Canadian laws concerning hate speech and public safety.
Take appropriate measures to prevent the organization of Quds Day demonstrations in Canada if they are found to promote extremist propaganda, support for designated entities, or public incitement.
By taking such action, Canada would reaffirm its commitment to protecting democratic values, preventing extremism, and ensuring that its public spaces are not used to promote the ideological agenda of authoritarian regimes.