Editor’s note: Global News previously reported, based on information from government officials, that 63 Canadians were killed in the Jan. 8 Ukraine International Airlines crash in Iran. On Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said that the number of crash victims who are Canadian citizens is now believed to be 57 due to additional information received. This story has been revised to reflect the latest figure provided by the Canadian government.
The Iranian community in Halifax held a vigil Thursday night in honour of the victims of the plane crash near Tehran, Iran that killed 57 Canadians.
It’s a full room for tonight’s vigil. Lots of people from the Iranian community are here as well as a number of politicians including the Premier. pic.twitter.com/yvb6FKt81z
— Alicia Draus (@Alicia_Draus) January 9, 2020
Community members packed into the Al-Rasoul Islamic Society in Bedford for a vigil, offering a chance for people to come together and show their support.
“If you look at the list of passengers, you see all are intellectuals, professionals, PhD students, faculty members, doctors, dentists,” said Ali Nafarieh, president of the Iranian Culture Society of Nova Scotia.
“This is for sure disaster for Iranian community and for sure disaster for Canada.”
READ MORE: Memorial services planned for Nova Scotians killed in Iran plane crash
Among the 176 people killed in the crash were Masoumeh Ghavi, an engineering student at Dalhousie University, and her sister, Mandieh Ghavi; Dr. Sharieh Faghihi, a dentist who worked in Halifax for several years; and Maryam Malek and Fatemeh Mahmoodi, who were attending Saint Mary’s University as masters of financial management students.
Those who knew the victims personally say they’re still in shock.
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard she was on the plane,” said Mino Mirzaei, a friend of Masoumeh. “I just thought, ‘Oh, she’s going to come back. She’s not on the plane.’”
A number of politicians attended the vigil, including Premier Stephen McNeil. But the majority of people there were members of the Iranian community.
“These people, they are so dear and close to us, and it is really heartbreaking for the community,” said vigil organizer Hossein Mousavi.
The community suffered another shock on Thursday after learning the Canadian government has intelligence suggesting the plane was shot down by an Iranian missile, possibly by mistake.
“I keep hoping it really is an accident, but even the kind of accident they’re saying it is, it’s not. It’s something they should have been extra careful with,” said Mirzaei.
READ MORE: Iran plane crash — Here’s what we know about the victims who lived in Canada
While many are calling on all governments to work together to find out what happened, that answer won’t bring back their loved ones.
“Unfortunately we lost many, many beautiful souls,” said Nafarieh. “Many.”
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