‘Justice delayed is justice denied:’ Canadians mark one year of Flight PS752 downing

A series of commemorative events stretching over two days has begun to mark the one-year anniversary of the downing of Flight PS752. At 9:42 pm EST — the exact moment the Ukrainian International Airlines flight took off from Iran — more than 1,000 people from around the world tuned in to a live stream to honour the 176 people on board who died. More than 100 of the victims had ties to Canada, and at least 55 were Canadian citizens. The Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims group organized the service. Voices of loved ones — some wishing to talk to those who died, others wanting to know their last thoughts — played over videos and photos of faces young and old. Biographies of the victims were to be read throughout the night and outdoor rallies were to take place later in various cities, including Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton. The plane was bound for Kyiv on Jan. 8, 2020, when it was shot out of the sky shortly after takeoff from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport. Tension between Iran and the US had been brewing. A few days earlier, a US strike on the Baghdad airport had been ordered by President Donald Trump that resulted in the death of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Iran’s military had fired missiles at American forces in Iraq in retaliation. “Justice delayed is justice denied” was repeated in the comment section of the online memorial. It’s a sentiment the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims have said looms over their heads, as many still wonder when they will see accountability. <br/>