Ford fails Al-Quds Day crackdown as mullahs walk Toronto streets

Eight years after promising a ban, last-minute action falls short as demonstrators praise the regime in Iran in downtown Toronto.

Scarlett Grace
  |   March 20, 2026   |   News Analysis   |   1 Comment

Al-Quds Day was started in 1979 by the first supreme leader of the Islamic Republic occupying Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini. He created the occasion to unite Muslims in solidarity with Palestinians in protest of Israel’s control of Jerusalem (Al Quds in Arabic).

Every year, antizionists gather to protest Israel’s very right to exist. The occasion is rooted in antisemitism and calls for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state. But this day doesn’t only occur in Muslim-majority countries. Toronto, Ontario has been dealing with Al-Quds Day gatherings for years.

Even though eight years ago Doug Ford said he would ban the event, which “calls for the killing of an entire civilian population in Israel,” it wasn’t until 2026, the day before it was set to take place, that he announced action. The emergency injunction hearing wasn’t held until noon on the day of the protest, and the judge ruled at 2:05, less than an hour before it began, that the event would go ahead as planned.

Ford had years to act and only moved on the day of, eight years later. The move appeared performative and likely driven by escalating violence in Toronto targeting Jewish and Iranian businesses, synagogues, and even the U.S. consulate following Ali Khamenei’s elimination. The event has already been banned in the U.K.

Al-Quds Day proceeded in Toronto. Police set up barriers between participants waving Palestinian and Islamic Republic flags and holding portraits of Ali Khamenei, the leader of the designated terrorist group the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The IRGC is responsible for the deaths of 55 Canadians and 12 permanent residents in the downing of Flight PS752 in 2020.

From the Al-Quds side, crude gestures were directed at the pro-freedom side, who held Canadian, Lion and Sun, American, and Israeli flags. One man made stabbing motions toward anti-regime demonstrators in a now viral clip while police looked on.

The pro-freedom side played the Canadian and Iranian national anthems, did the Trump dance to YMCA in thanks to America, and chanted “Parchame felestino bokon to koonet,” meaning “shove the Palestinian flag up your a—.”

This year, Al-Quds protesters were outnumbered by counter-protesters. Whether due to Ford’s statement or growing fatigue with years of rage-filled demonstrations, turnout appeared reduced. Meanwhile, the Iranian community, energized by recent anti-regime demonstrations, brought significant numbers.

As the Al-Quds crowd marched, pro-freedom Iranians stayed behind to celebrate. I followed the march. Though surrounded by security, several attendees attempted to approach me, body-check me, and grab my mic. Still, when I saw a man dressed as a mullah, I approached him to speak.

He made delusional claims such as “Adam was a Muslim,” despite Islam existing for less than 1,500 years. He offered no justification for the mass killing of Iranians in recent months and went silent when I mentioned Mahsa Amini and Nika Shakarami (victims of the murderous regime in Iran). You can watch the full interaction.

Thank you to my security, who kept me safe. Canadians deserve to see who these demonstrators are and the ideology they represent. Following a viral clip of a cleric arriving at Pearson Airport, three individuals dressed as mullahs were seen. One even led the march openly through Toronto’s streets.

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Scarlett Grace

Anti-Discrimination Reporter

Scarlett Grace is a Canadian journalist and musician from Peterborough, Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Trent University and has spent over a decade performing live and releasing original music.

In 2022, her involvement in Canada’s freedom movement marked a turning point in her career and public voice. She later joined Rebel News, where she works as an anti-discrimination journalist, reporting extensively on the rise of antisemitism in Canada and the Iranian uprising.

https://twitter.com/ScarlettGrace92

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  • Peter Bradley
    commented 2026-03-21 01:21:24 -0400
    Sharia has at least ten sources, according to the book, “In Search of a Mirage” by Muslim Tarek Fatah. Page 249 has the list: The Quran, Sunna, or Muhammad’s example, Consensus, Reasoning, Old laws of culture and scripture, Local customs, Independent opinion, Public interest, Equity Consensus, Presumption of continuity.
    Its possible the mullah tried to misrepresent the sources of sharia in order to emphasize their importance. He no doubt concluded that Scarlett Grace was not a Muslim, justifying his dishonesty.
  • Gabrielle Tisdale
    followed this page 2026-03-20 21:50:23 -0400