On Sunday, July 20, dozens of Quebecers assembled outside the Notre-Dame Basilica — a location previously used by the pro-Hamas group 'Montreal4Palestine' to stage protests and hold Islamic prayers.
The demonstration was organized by Mandana Javan, an Iranian-born Quebecer who advocates for secularism and women’s rights in Quebec.
“I was born in Iran. I was indoctrinated by this ideology. I know very well the political and colonial meaning of collective public prayers,” Mandana said. “In fact, it is one of the pillars of soft conquest.”
Javan explained that after witnessing the violent arrest of independent journalist Natasha Graham by Montreal police — simply for filming an anti-Israel protest — she and those around her felt compelled to act.
This protest is one of the first public demonstrations in Canada directly opposing what many see as the growing Islamisation of Montreal and the country more broadly.
Montreal Anti-Public Prayers Protest
— Alexandra Lavoie (@ThevoiceAlexa) July 20, 2025
People from all walks of life and backgrounds have gathered in front of the Notre-Dame Basilica to protest against the public Islamic prayers taking place in Montreal. pic.twitter.com/3jDh84OnHO
Among the speakers was Reza Azarpoor, another Iranian-born Quebecer and outspoken critic of radical Islam. “I lived under this ideology. I experienced it in my motherland under sharia law. I know how they manipulate, how they begin the oppression, and how they eventually start killing without hesitation,” he told Rebel News, sharing personal memories of life under Islamic oppression in Iran.
ISLAMISTS VS CANADA@Rezazarpoor comments on the pro-Hamas prayers on our streets.
— Alexandra Lavoie (@ThevoiceAlexa) July 21, 2025
It’s the Islamization of Montreal! pic.twitter.com/HV75jKL7es
Many Quebecers in attendance voiced frustration over what they view as a lack of respect — namely, the holding of Islamic prayers directly in front of a Christian place of worship, the Notre-Dame Basilica, and on a Sunday, the Christian day of rest.
During the protest, Rebel News brought its billboard truck to highlight the ongoing double standards of the Montreal police in their treatment of independent journalists. Officers have repeatedly blocked journalists from reporting on public prayers and, in some cases, even threatened them with arrest.
Natasha Graham is currently facing two criminal charges for merely documenting and filming what many have described as hate marches that have occurred every weekend in Montreal since October 7, 2023.
BREAKING: Montreal police arrest independent journalist @NatashaMontreal while she reported on the pro-Hamas protest here in the old city.
— Alexandra Lavoie (@ThevoiceAlexa) April 13, 2025
The mob cheered as the SPVM works on their behalf. This was after her and I were assaulted openly by the unruly crowd.
More details to… pic.twitter.com/HcuDg7MKRT
That same Sunday, Montreal police once again demonstrated their bias by preventing the Rebel News truck from parking at the roadside — despite having allowed a pro-Hamas vehicle to do so just two weeks earlier. Officers even threatened me with arrest for obstruction, simply for recording the exchange between our truck driver and a police officer.
Only one agitator was spotted at the protest, taking photos of the crowd. This same individual was previously seen during the pro-Hamas encampment at UQAM (Université du Québec à Montréal) in May 2023, photographing the Rebel News Quebec team moments before we were assaulted by Antifa thugs.