Supporters of the Iranian opposition movement hold a rally outside the Iranian Embassy in Ottawa on Friday, as protests against the June 12 election results continued in Iran. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Hundreds of people gathered outside the Iranian embassy in downtown Ottawa on Friday to speak out against the results of Iran's recent presidential election and the crackdown on protests in that country.

The Canadian government also showed its support for the citizens of Iran by rescinding an invitation to Iranian diplomatic envoys to celebrate Canada's birthday in Ottawa on July 1.

Buses carried Iranian-Canadians and supporters from Toronto and Montreal to join the Ottawa protest on Metcalfe Street, but they also carried some Canadian workers and union members who had something to say about Iran's turmoil.

Mostapah Younesi, who is with the Communist Party of Iran, said the current turmoil could create the right opportunity for unions to discuss working conditions in Iran.

"Pressures from outside countries by political parties, and also support from unions across the world has put enough pressure on the government on a few occasions [that] they had no choice but to release those activists that they had really arrested …for no reason," said Younesi.

"We are hoping to put more pressure on the government to make sure that the others that are still in jail … be released as soon as possible."

Tera Ghanbari, who escaped to Canada from Iran as a political prisoner 16 years ago, said she finds it hard to explain to Canadians what her life was like in Iran.

"I was a lucky one. They didn't kill me, they didn't execute me," she said.

"And I ran illegally through mountains and I went country to country and right now, I'm here and I'm safe."

The internet, she said, has helped Iranians send photos, videos and messages out of Iran and into homes around the world.

"I hope we grabbed [the] attention of Canadian government and Canadian people and other countries … that what's going on in Iran is not right."