OTTAWA--Canadian students released a statement of support of the struggles of their counterparts in Iran today, on Iran's day of the student. This day marks the anniversary of the murder of three student activists and celebrates the historical opposition of students in Iran to oppression and tyranny.

"We are deeply concerned for the well-being of our academic colleagues in Iran," Katherine Giroux-Bougard, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students said in the statement. "We would like all students and faculty at universities in Iran to know that we in Canada are concerned for your welfare and human rights and honour the courage of all Iranian students who have stood up against oppression."Iran's government has received a wave of criticism in recent months, following a hotly contested presidential election. Many Canadians have expressed concern over the government's increasingly aggressive attitude towards dissent. Critics have accused the government of closing down newspapers, imprisoning journalists and editors, and suppressing students and and their teachers.

"Freedom of speech, thought and expression are fundamental principles of higher education," added Giroux-Bougard. "Students stand in solidarity with citizens across the world who face oppression."Founded in 1981, the Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest student organisation, uniting more that one-half million students from ten provinces.