Saskatoon Iranian Cultural Association appeals ruling against flying ‘lion and sun’ flag

The Saskatoon Iranian Cultural Association is challenging the city’s new flag-raising bylaw at this week’s Governance and Priorities Committee meeting.

Pooyan Arab, executive director of the association, said a request from his group was submitted on Feb. 1, 2026 for the “lion and sun” flag to be raised at City Hall on March 21 to commemorate Persian New Year and to highlight the struggles of the people of Iran.

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The city clerk denied the request.

According to a city report, the “Protocol Policy” states that “flag raising requests for the flags of other countries and corresponding proclamations will not be approved.”

The report notes that the city policy changed in September 2025. Before that policy change, flags of other countries were allowed to be flown.

Arab said the group is appealing the clerk’s decision, based on the fact that the “Lion and Sun” flag is not Iran’s formal national flag.

“This is a very frustrating situation. This is not an official flag of another country. It is a symbol of freedom and hope for the people of Iran,” he said, noting that other Canadian cities have allowed that flag to be raised.

According to the city’s response to the group’s appeal filed on Feb. 4, the flag is still considered a historical national flag.

“For the purposes of administering section 3.4.4(d), the City interprets “flags of other countries” to include both current and former national flags, regardless of contemporary political, cultural, or symbolic meaning. As a result, this flag still falls within that category, and the request cannot be approved under the current policy.”

For Arab, that is a clear point of contention.

“To me, the language is interpreted as a current flag. There is nothing to say that this was a historical flag or anything like that … I don’t think that matches the soul of the bylaw.

“The bylaw clearly says ‘flag of another country.’ The ‘Lion and the Sun’ flag is not the flag of another country,” he added.

Arab explained it’s also important – given the recent protests held in Iran and the thousands of citizens killed by the government and the current war going on in the Middle East.

He said for people going through so much pain and so many challenges right now, it’s not a controversial ask of the city to raise the “Lion and Sun” flag for a few days.

“The people of Iran have courageously went to (sic) peaceful protests knowing they might not return home. Tens of thousands got killed. Now, again they’re bravely enduring these attacks hoping there would be a change in Iran,” he said.

Arab and members of his group are anticipating attending Wednesday’s committee meeting to appeal to city councillors, who will ultimately decide whether to uphold the original decision, or to allow the flag to be raised.