Among many people across the world there are understandable fears that this conflict may escalate further and further, resulting in a major war in the Middle East.
Israel is of course already involved in a brutal war in Gaza, which has now seen the deaths of over 55,000 people. For Iranians, the conflict is complicated by their feelings about the regime. Iran is a beautiful country, with a rich cultural heritage which goes back for millennia. However it is presently ruled by a harsh theocracy, which does not allow free speech and in which women are treated as second-class citizens.
It was with all this in mind that I asked Parisa Panahi, an Iranian born woman based in Newcastle for her thoughts and views on the current conflict between Iran and Israel.
What is your Iranian background?
“I first came to the UK with a Family Reunion visa from Iran, to join my father back in 2003. I then started attending university and building my life here.
“I have since lived in various parts of the country. About 13 years ago I came back to Newcastle and settled for good. I have since had my son and am currently working as a teacher, interpreter, and immigration case worker.
“I started my political activism back in 2022, after the death of Mahsa Amini, and have been trying to do my share of keeping humanity alive.”
How has the Iranian-Israeli conflict impacted upon you?
“Honestly, I am falling apart. There is a constant battle of living your safe and normal life in the UK, while your family is fleeing their home and relocating for their safety. It is trying to look normal while your heart is going out to the innocent civilians who have been affected. It has also caused a lot of traumatic memories to come back to me from the Iran and Iraq war. Not only my life, but the lives of millions of Iranians have been affected by this event.”
What do you think of the Iranian regime?
“There is no doubt that the Iranian regime is corrupted and the leader Khamenei is a dictator. I am sure people of Iran are so keen to change the Iranian regime. But, no one but them should be and is able to change it.”
What do you think of the Iranian nuclear enrichment plans?
“We are talking about plans. Plans that have not been fulfilled yet or, is yet to be proved if it has. But is Iran the only country with the nuclear? Had Israel not got any nuclear power? What about Pakistan and many more countries …?”
What do you think of the present conflict?
“It is inhumane. It should be stopped before more innocent people lose their lives. Who has given the order to Israel to start a war overnight, deceiving people that he is helping the Iranians towards the regime change? Why is no one even talking about it? Where is the UN? Why didn’t they even let the voting to begin in the UN, when it came to support Iran. Why are the UK and US arming Isreal to attack Iran? And there are many more questions that can be asked when talking about the current conflict.”
What are your hopes regarding the war?
“First of all, I am hoping that someone can stop the war to prevent more innocent people losing their lives.
“And then people of Iran can come together to change the regime. Not because Israel was helping them, but because they are putting their forces together to rebuild a better, peaceful country that they deserve.”
Comment
For many Iranians there is a conflict going on not only between Iran and Israel, but also in their minds at the present time. Just as many Germans felt conflicted during the Second World War, between their love of the country on their opposition to the Nazi regime. So many Iranians feel in a similar position today.
They also love their country and do not wish to see harm coming either to the country or the people who live there. On the other hand, opposition to the brutal regime in Tehran is widespread among the Iranian people, including the diaspora of Iranians living throughout the world.
It is very difficult to tell how this conflict will end. We can only hope that it ends soon, and the long-suffering people of Iran also soon see the light of liberty at the end of the long dark tunnel of oppression. We hope that freedom and justice can come to that ancient land, so that all the people in Iran can lead happy and fulfilled lives.
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