Few Words For Home
For the last couple of days, I was struggling to put together my thoughts and write about how I feel about the new wave of protests that are occurring in Iran, my country. I don't think at this certain time, anything can speak louder than the actions of the people who are going to the streets, in front of the guns and bullets of the police. As an Iranian living abroad, the best I can do is to demonstrate the viciousness of the regime and inform others about the pain we have all been going through since we were born. The pain and sanctions were dictated to us by our own government and foreign states.
Since childhood, I recall the dialogue regarding us, the new generation, fleeing the country as a consistent part of family gatherings. Subsequently, during high school and college, it became a common goal for most of us. Evidently, not everyone in the country with a collapsing economy has the privilege to escape. Many of us had no option but to stay due to several factors, and those who left also had to adapt themselves to the new circumstances, facing many struggles as a result of having an Iranian passport. Our identity limited us not only inside the borders, but also way further from our home. We grew up hearing “going abroad will save you from this jail”, but the jail was never within those borders, but encrypted to our identity.
I do not believe this sense of imprisonment was created solely by the Islamic Republic. External influences from both the West and East have contributed as well. We grew up with threats of invasion and exploitation. Even the so-called opposition groups often proved ineffective, offering little except false hope. While some people in diaspora support Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah, and suggest the monarchy's return as a solution, I respectfully disagree. In my view, restoring monarchy in 2026 is deeply problematic, reflecting an idealized view of the Pahlavi era rather than a realistic path toward democracy.
Similarly, it is unhelpful when some outside observers praise Ayatollah Khamenei for his stance against American influence, the sentiment that skyrocketed even more in the online sphere after the recent capture of Maduro by the USA. Leaders such as Khamenei and Kim Jong Un should not be compared uncritically to other global figures, especially by those with a limited understanding of Iran. While opposing external threats is important, it cannot be the sole reason to support a leader. To me as an Iranian, there is no difference between a dictator like Khamenei with Trump and Netanyahu.
What is happening in Iran is nothing but the outburst of decades of oppression by the regime, repression by the international governments and organizations, and the brutality of everyday life under the claws of radical ideologies. There is nothing but joy and calmness I can wish for my brothers and sisters in Iran, as I cannot imagine the pain they are experiencing in times like these. In the end, we are proud to be Iranian, and nothing can change that.