Build a Memorial to the Victims of the Downing of the Ukrainian Plane

The Right honorable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.

Prime Minister of Canada

Office of the Prime Minister

Langevin Block, 80 Wellington Street, 

Ottawa, ON. K1A 0A2

Dear Right Honorable Trudeau, 

The shooting down of the Ukrainian plane in Iran on Wednesday January 08, 2020, which killed all 176 passengers, including 57 Canadians, has led to a kind of collective trauma in Iran, in Canada and elsewhere. This severe trauma may last for decades and even transmit to following generations. We, the undersigned, strongly feel that man-made catastrophe as such, whether it be a state-sponsored acquiescence, or an act of criminal terrorism, must never happen again. To avoid the dangerous outcomes of forgetfulness, this event of collective trauma must become an indelible part of our collective memory and that of generations to come. This necessitates urgent action for the memorialization of the tragedy in the form of memorials, statues or museums in public places or airports in different regions of Canada. This will serve the following purposes:

1. It will be a symbol of great respect to the innocent and beloved victims who have lost their lives and who are deprived of having a grave or a memorial.2. It will provide relief to the affected families and convey them a message of solidarity. Memorials help heal open wounds, and contribute toward survivors’ empowerment and engagement in society.3. It will demonstrate the intention of the Canadian people and Government to strengthen empathy and respect for Canadian citizens and residents.4. It will mark a refusal to accept that the perpetrators can act with impunity by memorializing the tragedy sending a message to the entire world that the perpetrators remain accountable. 5. It will provide us with a concrete space for reflection and education about such tragedies. Memorials are seminal places that promote “critical consciousness” of such events and serve as warnings signs. 

The culture of memory has increasingly been considered a vital healing component of our global culture. It reflects a call for the building of an alternative society based on justice, freedom and human rights. While acting as symbols of remembrance and deep respect for victims and survivors, memorials have the hopeful and positive mission of ushering in a new world based on justice and peace.

The traumatizing impacts of the continuous denial of responsibility for such events of collective trauma can be overcome by our collective and consistent struggle to ensure their remembrance. This is effectively done by breaking the silence, recognizing the past for what it is in its truth, and by admonishing the perpetrators. 

Memorials convey the message that the voices of victims and survivors are not lost with the passage of time. In this way, future generations, survivors and all other visitors will be able to hear the voices of the victims and the silent uproar of the tragedy and injustice that marks this event. In their profound silence, memorials reflect the clamour of victims who lost their lives due to the merciless and cruel acts committed by men. According to the celebrated American writer Brad Oslen, “Each cries forth to teach, warn and compel future generations toward Right Actions.”

We, the undersigned, strongly and urgently appeal to you to consider building memorials for the victims of Ukraine International Airline, flight PS 752, which was shot down on Wednesday 08 January 2020.

Yours sincerely, 

Petitioners

1. Dr. Abbas Azadian, Psychiatrist
2. Abbas Kiarash, Political Analyst
3. Abbas Kohan, community activist
4. Adil Mansure, Architect, Lecturer, OCAD University
5. Afsaneh Hojabri, Author and Researcher
6. Ahmad Tabrizi, Engineer and Director of Persian Circle
7. Ahmad Pourebrahim, Business Manager and philanthropist
8. Aitak Sorahitalab, Artist
9. Albroz Arshak, Youth Program Manager
10. Ali Borzoo, Cab Driver
11. Ali Fattahi Dehnowi
12. Ali Khorrami, Retired Flight Attendant
13. Dr. Ali Mahmoudi
14. Alireza Ahmadi, Student
15. Dr. Alireza Behtoui, Professor of Sociology
16. Alireza Jahangiri, Engineer and Classical Singer
17. Allen Jahangiree,  Program Manager Engineering
18. Amir Hossein Behboudi
19. Amir Zahedi, Social and Political Activist
20.  Arash Ghiassi, Lawyer
21. Arash Kia
22. Arash Salamat, community activist
23. Ardeshir Kaymanesh, Technician
24. Arghavan Shamsara, Writer, Journalist and Community Activist
25. Arian Kiani, Political and Cultural Activist
26.  Dr. Arsalan Kahnemuyipour, Associate Professor of Linguistics, University of Toronto
27. Asgar Ca, Visual Artist
28. Arshiya Nasser
29. Assad Moznebi, Writer and Satirist 
30. Atoosa Mahdavian
31. Ava Zarrion, Financial Advisor
32. Dr. Azadeh Azad, Sociologist
33. Azadeh Esfandiari, women activist
34. Azadeh Haydarian, Medical Esthetician
35. Babak Yazdi, writer and social activist
36. Bahar Almasi, Electrical Engineer
37. Bahram Jam, physiotherapist
38. Banoo Behjat, Retired 
39. Behnaz Afaghi   Dental hygienist
40. Behrooz Pilehvar, Social Activist
41. Behrouz Zamani, Senior Citizen
42. Behzad Karimi, Political Columnist 
43. Behzad Pilehvar, business owner, philanthropist and community activist
44. Bijan Irani, Businessman
45. Bijan Fathi, Founding Member of the Organization of Mothers’ against Death Penalty
46. Brian Fernandez, Social Worker
47. Caroline Mills
48. Caspian Makan, Journalist and Filmmaker
49. Colin MacAdam, Retried Provincial Adjudicator
50. Connor Pouryekta, Law Student
51. Darab Shabahang, Simorgh Network
52. Deanna Khosravi, Child Psychologist
53. Dr. Dena Hohman
54. Dr. Donald Hohman
55. Dordaneh Khosravi, Student
56. Dorna Mossallanejad, Teacher, English Literature
57. Dorna Zaboli, B.A., B.C.L., J.D.
58. Effat Razavi, women’s activist
59. Ehsan Sayhoon, Business owner
60. Eman Mohammadi Nejad, Lead Data Scientist
61. Esmaeil Khataei
62. Esmail Rabihavi, Human Rights Activist
63. Ezat Mossallanejad, Ph.D., Policy Analyst and Researcher
64. Farah Taheri, Writer, Journalist and Animal Rights Activist
65. Farah Madayen, Children and Women Activist 
66. Farahmand Rokni, former Political Prisoner and Human Rights Activist 
67. Faramaz Rafie, business manager and cultural activist
68. Fereshteh Gourani, Social Worker
69. Fereshteh Raisdanaee, Administrative Assistant
70. Dr. Farhad Kaivani, Cardiologist
71. Fariba Rad, Senior Data Analyst and Human Rights Activist
72. Fariba Omidvari, Home Care
73. Farid Ameryoun
74. Farimah Shaygan
75. Farzana Ghulam Ghaus, Home Maker
76. Farzaneh Afsari, Travel Agent
77. Farzin Teymourian, Engineer
78. Fatemeh Bazrgary
79. Feridoun Jizan, Senior Advisor - Application Services at AARP
80. Firouzeh Hasti, former Political Prisoner in Iran
81. Firooz Afiattalab
82. Firouz Hematiyan, Real Estate Owner
83. Forouzandeh Rokni
84. Fred Mehraien, Business Owner
85. [Name removed by the signer's request]
86. Galavizh Mohammadi, Singer
87. Ghayour Nassirnia
88. Godrat Sultani
89. Guity Mousavi
90. Dr. Hadi Rad, Telecommunication Engineer
91. Dr. Haleh Doulatyariazar, family doctor and the CCVT board member
92. Hamid Iranpour
93. Hassan Golshahi, Political Activist for the last five decades
94. Hassan Jafari, Political and Human Rights Activist
95. Hassan Masoudi, former Political Prisoner
96. Hassan Pooya, Clinical Technologist
97. Hassan Zerehi, Editor of Iranian Weekly Shahrvand
98. Hazhar Alipoor, Political Activist
99. Hengameh Kasraee Writer
100. Henry Luyombya, Social Worker
101. Hojjat Golpayegani, Writer
102. Dr. Homa Jam, Dentist
103. Hosein Amooshahi, Real Estate Broker
104. Hossein Afsahi, writer and director
105. Hossein Karimzadeh      Business Owner
106. Hossin Karimi
107. Hossein Raeesi, Professor of Carlton University
108. Imam Kamali Sarvestani
109. Iraj Taghizadeh
110. Iran Khordadi, Retired
111. Isak Hema hangi, Math Historian
112. Dr. Jafar Jafarnejad, wrtier, poet and man of letter
113. Jamshid Jamshidi, Political Activist (Working Class Section)
114. Joseph Hircanian, cultural and community activist
115. Katayoun Daghi Sarkhabi, Social and Community Worker
116. Katrina Kaur, Volunteering at Freedom City Ministry
117. Kaveh Davar, Youth Activist
118. Kaykhosro, Business Owner
119. Keyhan Khalili, Foreign Policy Analyst
120. Dr. Khodad Jahromi, Computational Physicist
121. Khordhid Roozdar, Realator
122. Khozema Mansure, Business Recruitment Manager
123. Khozema Mansure—Senior Associate, DHR International (Executive Search Consultant)
124. Kubra Zaifi, Settlement Counsellor
125. Laleh Azizi
126. Lee Jalili
127. Leila Naderi
128. Dr. Lili Naghdi, Family Physician
129. Loghman Masoudi, former Political Prisoner and Minority Rights Activist
130. Mohamoud Mokhtary
131. Dr. Mahmoud Zahraei
132. Mahshid Fathiroodsari, Artist and Engineer
133. Mahtab Nali, Precious Metal Expert
134. Mahvash Afsahi, Women’s Activist
135. Mahvash Fathi, Founding Member of the Organization of Mothers’ against Death Penalty
136. Dr. Majid Afrasiabifar          Dentist
137. Dr. Majid Nafisi, Poet, Scholar and Man of Letter
138. Manoochehr Bakhtiary, Historian
139. Mansoor Sham, Professor of Art at Delta State University
140. Marjan Delavar, Senior Litigation Lawyer
141. Maryam Shokri, writer and social activist
142. Maryam Nowrouzi, Teacher
143. Marzieh Sotoudeh, Writer
144. Masoud Molazadeh, Graphist
145. Massey Baradaran        Realtor
146. Masi Padyab, Writer and Essayist 
147. Dr. Mastoureh Ahmadzadeh, Physician
148. Meema Omid
149. Mehdi Amin 
150. Mehdi Ebrahimzadeh
151. Mehdi Jabbari, Political and Human Rights Activist
152. Mehdi Jafari Roudsari, Writer
153. Mehdi Torabi-Kia, Cultural and Community Activist 
154. Mehek Mansure, Manager, Strategy and Transformation Services at RBC 
155. Mehrak Kamali
156. Mehrdad Amiri, Political activist
157. Mehrdokht Hadi
158. Mehrdokht Hakhamaneshi
159. Mehrnoush Ahmaid
160. Mehry Shahmoradi, Retired Teacher
161. Meysam Motamed
162. Mina Armaghan, Accountant
163. Minoo Derakhshan
164. Minoo Homily, Refugee Advocate and former Political Prisoner
165. Mitra Eghbali
166. Mitra Izadpanah
167. Mitra Jam, Pharmacist
168. Mira Nassiri, Fusionist and Community Activist
169. Mitra Saffari
170. Mo Gilani, Accountant
171. Moe Rahimian, writer and journalist (editor)
172. Mohammad Allohverdi, P.Eng., Senior Manager of Engineering
173. Mohammad Azami, former Political Prisoner and Political Activist
174. Mohammad Bagher Haghshenas, Senior Technical Specialist, St Michael Hospital
175. Mohammadali Sharifian, Senior Engineer
176. Mohsen Rezvani, Social and Political Activist
177. Mojdeh Khaligh, Personal Support Worker
178. Mojgan Kiani, Dental Assistant
179. Mojgan Tabrizi, M.A. 
180. Mojtaba Sari
181. Mona Kokabi, Registered Nurse
182. Monireh Masoudi Mohammadi
183. Morteza Abdoalian, Board member of the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
184. Morteza Maurice Iranpour, Business Advisor and Philanthropist
185. Mostafa Ahmadian Tehrani, Chemist
186. Mostafa Azizi, Film Director
187. Mostapha Younesi
188. Dr. Musa Mohammadnejad, professor honorary, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UBC
189. Nafisa Mansure, Student, Toronto Art Therapy Institute
190. Nafiseh Saeidi, Student
191. Nahid Jamei, Early Childhood Educator
192. Narges Behjat, Business Owner
193. Narges Irani, Retired
194. Narges Khorsand, Missiologist 
195. Nargis Salamuddin, Student & Bank Teller
196. Nasrin Almasi, Writer, Editor and Women’s Activist
197. Dr. Nasrin Hosein Pur Nobari, Family Physician
198. Nastaran Niki Aliee, Political Activist
199. Nazanin Behjat, Realtor
200. Nazi Mojdehbakhsh
201. Dr. Negar Alamdar, Post-Doctoral Fellow at Maternal Child Health, York University
202. Negin Gharavi, Pharmacist  
203. Niaz Salimi, Community Activist and Human Rights Advocate
204. Dr. Nilofar Shidmehr, Author, Scholar and University Instructor 
205. Niloufar Behdjani
206. Nima Machouf, Epidemiologist 
207. Dr. Nina Noghrekar 
208. Nina Toobaei, Human Rights and Cultural Activist
209. Dr. Reza Noghrekar 
210. Nooshin Tehrani
211. Nouraldin Hadizadeh
212. Omar Karimi, Social Worker
213. Omid Shakiba, Filmmaker and Film Instructor at Sheridan College
214. Oscar Castanos, PHL
215. Pari Farsi, Actress and Director
216. Prof. Parisa Aflatounian, Writer
217. Parisa Behjat, Student
218. Parisa Rezvam
219. Parvin Torgi
220. Pegah Chehrazi
221. Rabila Attai, women activist and counsellor
222. Razieh Zakeri, School Lunch Assistant
223. Razzaq Zahraei, Soccer Head Coach
224. Rebecca Shafiee, Freesocial activist and counsellor
225. Reza Dargahi
226. Reza Deghati, Photojournalist
227. Reza Ghazi, Businessman, Philanthropist
228. Dr. Reza Moridi, Physicist and former politician
229. Professor Richard T Hull, Emeritus, Professor of Philosophy, University at Buffalo
230. Robert Graham, writer, actor and editor
231. Rouhangiz Rasekhafar
232. Roozbehan Tehrani, Community Supporter
233. Roya Habibi, Business Owner
234. Roya Rahimi Dehban
235. Saeed Choobak, Librarian and Cultural Activist
236. Saeideh Ciabigarjan, Former Political Prisoner
237. Saeideh Naderi 
238. Sahar Mirshafiei, Writer, Business Manager and Community Activist
239. Shahar Tiyam, Member of the Committee of Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners
240. Samaneh Ahmaid, Realtor Broker
241. Samira Ahmadi, Student
242. Sara Salamat, Future CEO
243. Sarah Takhsha
244. Sayfi Behpouri
245. Sedigheh Fakhrabadi, Pathologist
246. Seyed Javad Hashemi
247. Shadi Amin, writer, poet and feminist
248. Shadi Keymanesh, Student
249. Shadi Vasse, Engineer
250. Shahla Khorrami, Home Maker
251. Shahla Zendegani, Social Worker
252. Dr. Shahram Azam, Physician
253. Shahram Tabe-Mohammadi, Journalist, Writer and Scholar
254. Shahriar Taheri, cultural and community activist
255. Shahrzad Arshadi, Award Winning Multidisciplinary Artist and Social Justice Activist
256. Shahrzad Dastoornezhad
257. Sharokh Zati
258. Shayan Keymanesh, Student
259. Sheida Bamdad, Social Worker and Women’s Activist
260. Sheida Dastoornejad Khaghighi, Social Worker
261. Sheila Emami
262. Dr. Shirin G-Ahangari  Family Doctor
263. Shokoufeh Gholami, Teacher
264. Siamak Shabani           Realtor
265. Siavah Gholampour
266. Sima Arab, Cultural and Community Activist
267. Sohaila Yousefi, Home Maker
268. Soheila Arzani, Animal Rights Activist
269. Soheila Golshahi, Teacher and Human Rights Activist
270. Sona Kazemi
271. Susan Amirpour, Dental Hygienist
272. Suzan Mousesian, Social Service Worker
273. Tahereh Amir, Salesperson
274. Tanita Hema Hangi, Wild Life Biologist
275. Tara Allohverdi B.Sc, Biological Science, M.Sc Chair, Graduate Student Liaison Committee, M.Sc Plant Agriculture Student. 
276. Tara Saberpor, M.A.
277. Taiebeh Mousavi, Registered Nurse
278. Vajey Ghassemi
279. Vajiheh Farhadi, Nurse
280. Vida Dolikhani
281. Vista Behjat, Student
282. Dr. Wendell Block, Family Doctor
283. Yadi Mahmodi
284. Yaser Shafiei Rezvani
285. Yavar Yavari, Community Liaison Worker
286. Dr. Zaher Dadollahi, Dentist
287. Zari Fotohi, Nurse, Plastic Surgery
288. Zand Marshall
289. Dr. Zeynab Shafe, Dentist
290. Dr. Zhila Fazeli, Psychiatrist
291. Zia Safavi
292. Zohreh Riahi, Accountant
293. Zohreh Rostami, Pharmacist