Kurds across Canada demonstrate in front of US Embassy offices, call for Kurdish support

OTTAWA, Canada (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdish diaspora across Canada on Tuesday demonstrated in front of the United States Embassy offices, calling on Washington to break its silence as Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shia militias continue to attack Peshmerga.

In the Canadian capital of Ottawa, the Kurdish diaspora gathered in front of the Canadian Parliament building before marching toward the US Embassy.

The peaceful rally, organized by the Kurdish Association of Canada, was meant to bring attention to the recent injustices against Kurdistan at the hands of the Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shia Hashd al-Shaabi militia.

“We marched today to show our support for the Kurdish people,” one of the demonstrators at the rally told Kurdistan 24. “We marched to urge both the US and the international community that Kurdish rights matter.”

Chants of “Long live Kurdistan” rang out as the crowd gathered in front of the US Embassy building.

Meanwhile, demonstrators in Toronto marched toward the US Consulate office, waving the flag of Kurdistan and chanting peaceful slogans.

The rally was organized by the Greater Toronto Kurdish House, a non-partisan community group.

Chato Wany, the president of the organization, said the international community, particularly the US, “has an obligation to protect” the innocent civilians affected by the recent violence.

“We are here to demand that the US, Canada, and all nations who preach liberty, justice, and freedom intervene to protect the Kurdish people,” Wany told Kurdistan 24.

Mariwan Kestay, a member of the Kurdish House, said the US and the United Nations must “recognize the will” of the millions of Kurds “who want to be free.”

“We beseech the United States and the international community to stop the violence, stop the encroachment of these forces,” he added.

The demonstrations in Canada followed recent protests in the Kurdistan Region as well as Europe where Kurds marched before the US Consulate and UN offices to express their rage at the irony of Iraqi and Shia forces attacking Kurds using American-supplied weapons.

The people of Kurdistan were outraged at Washington’s inaction as the Iranian-backed militias assailed the multi-ethnic city of Kirkuk and other disputed areas last week.

Clashes are ongoing between the Kurdish forces and Shia militias as the Iraqi government aims to regain administrative control of disputed territories.