Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
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People danced on the flag of Iran’s Islamic Republic outside Regina’s Legislative Building on Sunday, waving Israeli, Canadian and American flags as chants of “USA! USA! USA!” and “Thank you Bibi” echoed through the cold afternoon air.
Some held signs reading “Khamenei burn in hell” and “See u in hell, sucker,” while Lion and Sun flags, a historic Iranian symbol often used by opposition movements, waved above the crowd.
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Strangers hugged, some cried, and others stood in silence, taking in a moment many said they had waited decades to see.
“We’re so happy because the most dangerous terrorist of all time has been bombed and he’s no longer here,” said Parastu Mohajer. “The feeling is incredible. It’s surreal.”
For the members of the Iranian community in Saskatchewan who gathered on Sunday, the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei marked a turning point not just politically, but personally.
Mohajer described learning the news late at night through a message from a friend.
“I was about to go to bed, and I saw my WhatsApp, and my friend had typed, ‘Khamenei is dead,’” Mohajer said.
“And I couldn’t move for some seconds. And then I checked the news, and I couldn’t sleep.”
Dozens gather outside the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina, celebrating reports of Iran’s supreme leader’s death. Iranian, Israeli and American flags wave as the mood shifts from protest to celebration. #Regina #Saskatchewan #Iran #Khamenei #IranWar pic.twitter.com/o09kXXJMOc
— Jacob Bamhour (@Jbamhour96) March 1, 2026
Unlike previous rallies in Regina that focused on fear, uncertainty and concern for loved ones back home, Sunday’s gathering carried the energy of release.
“This is a day of celebration,” Mohajer said. “Today, we chose to gather to celebrate his death.”
Mohajer described the emotional weight many in the Iranian diaspora carry as they watch events unfold thousands of kilometres away while family members remain in the country.
“At the minute I found out, I contacted my mom,” Mohajer said. “I could talk to her for a second, and after that, everything was gone.”
Nasire Ziba raises his hands during a rally outside the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina celebrating reports Iran’s supreme leader had been killed. Ziba said the moment brought hope after years of watching events unfold from abroad (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)
Nasire Ziba described the rally as a moment of hope after decades of suffering.
“We are here to celebrate the death of the Supreme Leader of Iran,” Ziba said. “We are celebrating because they were responsible for the suffering of the entire nation for almost over last 47 years.”
Ziba described the emotional toll of separation from family members still living in Iran.
“I’ve been here for 10 years, haven’t been able to go back to Iran and visit my family,” he said. “I have been crying every day for the last two months.”
Ziba described the moment as the first sign of a possible future many had only imagined.
“We are really hopeful that we can get our freedom back.”
Dariush Davoodi at the rally outside the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina. Davoodi described the moment as emotional after decades of political repression in Iran. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)
Dariush Davoodi described the rally as both a celebration and a continuation of a long struggle.
“It’s one of the other Sundays that we get together here to be the voice of the people of Iran and show our solidarity with them,” Davoodi said. “But there is a big difference today. The dictator is killed, and we are here to celebrate that as well.”
Davoodi described the initial reaction as shock.
“It was shocking. It was unbelievable for us. For hours, I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it.”
Davoodi described the moment as a turning point, but not the end.
“This is kind of a beginning for the end of 47 years of torture for the Iranian people,” Davoodi said. “We are happy, but this is just the beginning. Our country is not free yet.”
Despite the celebration, Davoodi described the emotional complexity of the moment, noting that joy and grief often coexisted.
“This is a war,” he said. “If you look at their faces, while they are dancing, we were crying and dancing.”
Davoodi said communication with family members remained difficult due to blackouts.
“Whatever news that we get is from satellites and is very limited.”
For many at the rally, the celebration went beyond the death of a political leader; it represented the possibility of change.
“Our big hope is regime change,” Davoodi said. “We are seeing the light. We are seeing the horizon of freedom.”
Around the Legislative Building, chants continued as flags waved and demonstrators embraced thousands of kilometres from Iran, but emotionally tied to events unfolding there.
For those gathered, it was not just the fall of a leader, it was the possibility of a different future.
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