Iran International
Mehran Abtahi was a 37-years-old newlywed studying to become an environmental engineer at a Canadian university when his life was tragically taken from him.
Mehran is one of 176 people killed when the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shot down Ukraine International Airlines PS752 over the skies of Tehran with two surface-to-air missiles on January 8, 2020.
On Monday evening, Mehran’s younger brother Arman, and other families of PS752 victims gathered in Vancouver and across Canada to mark the somber anniversary.
“The pain of that moment has not lessened. It's a wound that remains open,” Arman told Iran International.
Iran initially denied responsibility, but admitted to shooting down the airliner three days later after mounting evidence made Tehran's culpability clear. Iranian authorities continue to maintain that the incident resulted from human error.
The victims' families remain unconvinced, however, with many believing the attack was aimed at the West.
176 photos and ornaments with the victims' faces adorned on a white Christmas tree at the Vancouver event commemorating the lives lost.
Most of those killed were Canadians, permanent residents of Canada and people with ties to the country who were visiting family in Iran during the Christmas break.
Seeking justice and accountability
Amid heaving sobs, one mother who lost her daughter said, "it still feels like one long day that just won’t end," inconsolable.
Arman, like many of the families, is trying to cope with grief while seeking justice not only for their families but for all Iranians facing oppression, he said.
Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom have taken Iran to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the downing of the airliner. The four countries announced the move in 2023 shortly after the deadline passed for Iran to submit arbitration under the Montreal Convention.
“It’s long a journey but this is one step closer to justice,” Arman said.
During the candlelight vigil, Arman told Iran International that seeking accountability is a part of preventing future similar tragedies.
“When we delay justice, it gives the atrocities to the criminals to do what they do. We should urge the international community to hold them accountable to prevent such tragic events from happening again,” Arman said.
Many of the families of the victims said that since the tragedy the Iranian government has been targeting them and trying to silence them.
On Oct 30, 2023 Manzar Zarabi, an Iranian resident who lost two children, a daughter-in-law, and her five-year-old granddaughter Sofie was detained by Iran’s security forces for several days before being released.
Canadian Iranian human rights activist Hamed Esmaeilion — whose wife and daughter were killed on the flight — said his mother was banned from leaving Iran for at least six months last year in response to his activism.
While Arman hasn't been directly impacted by official intimidation on Canadian soil, he said his family in Iran has, but declined to elaborate citing their safety.
"It's very hard," Arman said. "They are alone and I'm here,"
