A large group of demonstrators flocked to the Legislature building in Winnipeg on Saturday to call for regime change in Iran as part of a global day of action spurred by the country’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi.

Thousands have been killed in Iran after widespread anti-government protests broke out in late December.

More than 7,000 people have been confirmed dead as of Friday, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been monitoring the growing death toll. The group said more than 25,800 civilians have been injured and over 53,000 arrests have been recorded. 

Mona Saeidi, who moved to Canada in 2020 and was at the rally in Winnipeg, said two of her brothers were among those arrested for protesting.

Saeidi said her family was forced to pay $14,000 US to secure the release of her brothers, aged 17 and 29.

Saeidi said she was jailed between 2007 and 2014 for practicing her Christian faith and “fighting for freedom.”

“We need freedom for our people in our homeland,” she said, adding she and other Iranians living in Winnipeg will continue to attend rallies until there is a regime change in her home country. 

“We are here to support our people,” Saeidi said.

The rally was one of several happening around the world on Saturday — including a separate march in downtown Winnipeg — after Pahlavi called for a global day of action. He said the main gathering points for Iranians living abroad would be Toronto, Munich and Los Angeles. 

A rally just north of Toronto drew about 350,000 people on Saturday, according to police estimates. 

Outside the Legislature, Winnipeggers waved Iran’s former lion-and-sun flag while chanting, “Regime change in Iran,” and, “King Reza Pahlavi.”

Demonstrators said Pahlavi, the son of the country’s last shah and a prominent opposition figure, should be the one to lead a democratic transition in Iran. 

Farnaz Farokhian, who immigrated to Canada a decade ago, said many Iranians have been calling for regime change over the nearly five decades of the Islamic Republic government. 

Despite watching what’s happening in Iran with a “broken heart,” she said the deadly protests will bring political change.

“I believe this is the last protest,” Farokhian said. 

“I believe the king of Iran will be back.”

Both Farokhian and Saeidi told CBC News that they would like to see the U.S. intervene with military action against the Iranian government. 

Saeidi said Saturday’s protest outside the Legislature — held on Valentine’s Day — was all about showing love to everyone living in her home country. 

“Our homeland is our alentine and we are standing here to send love for our people to Iran,” she said.