Personal Reflections: the freedom we yearn for from overseas

My family left Iran after the revolution that ousted the Shah. I was born in Italy and my parents were supporters of the principal opposition in their homeland: the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI/MEK).

They felt that the mullahs betrayed their revolutionary promises of freedom and justice and were part of a wave of political exiles who opposed the theocratic and repressive regime that was emerging in the country.

My parents and relatives were no mere spectators, but active participants in the resistance against tyranny. Despite exile, our struggle did not end; it continued abroad, through activism and a commitment to human rights and justice.

Passing the torch

I have chosen to continue the journey of my parents and the Iranian Resistance, fighting alongside them to overthrow this regime, even though I have never seen Iran with my own eyes. Thanks to their perseverance and sacrifice, I understood my role, not only as their daughter but as a companion in the fight for freedom.

For more than 40 years, the Iranian people have lived under a regime that systematically violates their fundamental rights, yet despite the repression and injustices, the people’s spirit has never been broken. Although I have never walked the streets of Tehran, every cry for justice echoes in my heart.

This fight for freedom will not be in vain. Last year, more than 1,000 Iranians were executed by the regime, including some who were under 18 at the time of the alleged crime. This is state terrorism, perpetuated every day, and indicative of the inhumanity of a merciless system.

A fight for all

Earlier this year, I was deeply honoured to receive a ‘Courageous Woman’ award from Fabio Rampelli, the Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies at NCRI, the Iranian parliament in exile. It recognised my work in the fight for the rights of Iranian women and the Iranian people.

Pull Quote: For more than 40 years, the Iranian people have lived under a regime that systematically violates their fundamental rights

I accepted this award on behalf of all the brave women of the Resistance Units in Iran, for their bravery and sacrifice in the face of oppression. They are brave because they want change. They want neither a clerical dictatorship, nor a monarchy, nor an existence in exile.

What they want is to live freely, to express themselves without fear, and to participate in their country, to help determine its destiny. They want a democratic, secular Iran based on equality and justice. “A free Iran, with no Shah and no Mullahs,” as we say in the diaspora.

Tired of betrayal

We are a generation caught between the trauma of the past and the hope for a better future. Iranians are tired of being silenced, ignored, and seeing their hopes betrayed, but they are not defeated.

There is hope, but it is not enough to express generic solidarity, which so far has changed nothing. A strong stance against the regime includes sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations, as would happen in other countries.

In Italy, our work continues. I am a spokesperson of the Associations of the Iranian people in Italy. We organise events, write articles, and build support networks—small actions in the grand scheme of things, but actions that nevertheless help keep the attention focused on what is happening in Iran and supporting those resisting.

Although I have never walked the streets of Shiraz or crossed Mount Damavand, Iran lives in every beat of my heart. I firmly believe that the courage of the Iranian people will bring change, and that we will one day have a free country. When that freedom finally arrives, it is unlikely to be a gift from the powerful, but rather a triumph earned by brave and indomitable Iranians.

__

By: Azar Karimi

*Azar Karimi is a post-doctorate in Business Law and is spokesperson for the Association of Youth Iranians in Italy.
*