Toronto Police Praise 150,000-Strong Anti-Iranian Regime Protest for ‘Zero Incidents’

Protesters march in support of regime change in Iran during a rally in Toronto on Feb. 1, 2026. Kamran Jebreili/AP Photo

Toronto police noted Monday that protests held against the Iranian regime by 150,000 members of the Iranian Canadian community over the weekend ended with zero incidents.

Massive crowds of protesters took to the streets of Canada’s largest city Feb. 1 to protest against the ruling regime in Iran, which has been violently repressing protesters inside Iran for over a month.

“150,000 demonstrators and zero incidents,” Toronto Police Service posted Feb. 2 on X. “Thanks to the meticulous planning, effective on‑the‑ground work, and professionalism of our members and specialized units, yesterday’s event in the heart of our city remained safe and peaceful.”

The Canadian Jewish advocacy organisation Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) also complimented the peaceful nature of the Feb. 1 anti-Iran-regime protests.

“When protestors are peaceful and lawful, outcomes look different,” CIJA posted Feb. 2 X, contrasting the Feb. 1 demonstrations with many anti-Israel protests held in Toronto to protest the Gaza war.

“Canadians should not have to accept incitement to violence, blockades, harassment, or the intimidation of citizens as ‘normal’ protest behaviour,” the group added in an apparent reference to violence and harassment committed against the Jewish community in recent years.

The Feb. 1 protest march in Toronto was held in support of widespread protests inside Iran that began late last December and were forcibly put down by the ruling regime, resulting in thousands of deaths.

The protests in Toronto are one of the largest Iran-related demonstrations ever held in Canada and reflect the country’s sizable Iranian community. Many of those taking part carried pre-1979 Iranian flags and chanted for regime change and an end to repressive practices by the current regime.

A number of individuals also held banners supporting exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as the next leader of Iran. Pahlavi is the son of the last monarch of Iran, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was overthrown during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which brought the current regime to power. Pahlavi has lived in exile since the revolution, with supporters saying he could unify opposition movements and detractors saying he wouldn’t properly represent Iran’s varied political culture.

Commenting on the news of the peaceful protests in Toronto over the weekend, Pahlavi’s press office said the spirit of the demonstrations in Toronto represents the “real Iran.”

“This is the real Iran,” the press office posted Feb. 2 on X. “One that, after the fall of the Islamic Republic, will become a pillar for peace and stability in the region and the world.”