Neda Agha-Soltan was shot to death by pro-government militiamen during a protest last June over the results of the presidential election in Iran. Anti-government protesters took to the streets again this week on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. (BBC)

As thousands of Iranians took to the streets of Tehran Thursday on the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution to protest their current government, an Iranian living in exile in Toronto warned of the deadly consequences of protest in Iran.

Caspian Makan is the former fiancé of Neda Agha-Soltan, a young Iranian woman who was shot to death by pro-government militiamen during protests in Tehran following last year's elections. Her death, which was caught on video that was later posted on YouTube, drew international attention.

Anti-government protests began in the days following the June 12, 2009, presidential election, when results showed a landslide victory for hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ahmadinejad's main challenger, Mir Hossein Mousavi, alleged fraud, and his supporters took to the streets of the capital.

Makan said he had pleaded with Agha-Soltan to stay indoors.

"I tried to stop her, but when I realized the depth of her commitment and her strong desire to join the people and stand next to them, I couldn't stand in her way, so I gave up," he said. "And then the horrible event happened."

Agha-Soltan was shot during a street protest. Her bloody final moments were filmed with a phone camera, then uploaded to the internet. Within hours, she became the symbol of protest in Iran.

As for Makan, he became a hunted man. After speaking out about her death, he was jailed in the Evin prison in Tehran, the same place where Canadian-Iranian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi died.

Two months later, he was released on bail and escaped. He lived in hiding in the Middle East, before making his way to Canada just over a month ago.

He feels Canada country is committed to human rights. Despite the pain of losing Agha-Soltan, he urged Iranians to head into the streets Thursday.

"It seems there's really no other way for the Iranian people to achieve freedom other than to courageously stand up and be heard," Makan said.

In the weeks following Agha-Soltan's death, as opposition supporters gathered at her grave, police used tear gas and batons to break up the crowd. And just last month, on what would have been Agha-Soltan's 27th birthday, when family members arrived at her grave bearing flowers, they were told to leave, Makan said.

It all points to the authorities' continued concern about the power Agha-Soltan carries in death, he said.

Makan has no plans to return to Iran and has set aside his photography profession for now.

"My people are losing their lives, and I cannot stand by and selfishly follow my own interests," he said. "So now, I am committed and will continue to be active in the fight for human rights."

With files from Laura Lynch.