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In the early hours of a Saturday morning, the air was charged with a mix of anxiety and exhilaration among Iranian-Canadians as news broke of military action in Iran. Many took to the streets, propelled by a fervent hope that this intervention could signal the end of a long-standing oppressive regime. A tapestry of emotions unfolded as individuals, some with family still in Iran, gathered in solidarity, embodying the duality of joy and trepidation in the face of potential change.
A Morning of Mixed Emotions
Bahar Tarzi, a prominent figure in the Iranian-Canadian community and founder of the Iranian Canadian Social and Cultural Council, woke up at 4 a.m. to a flurry of alerts detailing the onset of bombings in Iran. With exhilaration, she called out to her husband and son, “It’s happening! It’s happening!” Ms. Tarzi, who has long advocated for the end of the Iranian dictatorship, expressed, “I have been praying for this.”
In Toronto, Zara Marzban, 36, received an anxious call from her sister back home. “They are bombing,” her sister informed her, reassuringly adding, “We are okay, safe in our houses, but the connection might be lost.” Having lived in Canada for four years, Ms. Marzban felt the weight of her past experiences, recalling her childhood where she was mandated to wear a hijab from the age of nine. “As a woman, I didn’t feel safe there,” she reflected, highlighting the precarious position of women in Iran.
Mersad Katebi, 21, prepared to join a protest when he received a call from his cousin in Iran, who shared the news of war with palpable excitement. “I was like, oh, wow,” he said, admitting it was difficult to contain his joy. “It’s a feeling of happiness and joy,” he added, noting his departure from Iran five years earlier to study in Toronto.
A Celebration of Hope
By midday, the streets of Richmond Hill were alive with the sounds of cheering and dancing as thousands of Iranian-Canadians came together, transforming a planned protest into a celebration of newfound hope. The atmosphere was electric, filled with the rhythm of music and the honking of horns. Many donned the Iranian flag, with slogans like “Make Iran Great Again” echoing through the crowd. Ms. Marzban, smiling brightly beneath a grey wool tuque, waved a smaller flag, embodying the spirit of resilience.
Across Canada, the Iranian diaspora shared a collective yearning for a chance to dismantle the oppressive regime in Iran. Yet, this optimism was not universally felt. Some voices within the community expressed caution, warning against the complexities of using military intervention to achieve regime change.
The Complexity of Change
Sasan Issari, a social worker and assistant professor at Trent University, articulated the concerns of many. He highlighted the potential risks, suggesting that military action could exacerbate the situation, galvanising anti-Western sentiments. “History has shown that when you bomb people to give them freedom, it has the opposite effect,” he cautioned, drawing on lessons from past conflicts.
Pouya Morshedi, a part-time lecturer at Acadia University and a scholar of the Iranian Revolution, echoed this sentiment. He stressed that genuine change must come from within Iran, stating, “The only way that we can have hope for the future in Iran is through the people who are inside Iran.” Morshedi, who had spoken to family members sheltering from the bombings, acknowledged the uncertainty of what might follow a potential regime collapse.
This sentiment was echoed by Reza Hadisi, an Iranian-American philosophy professor at the University of Toronto, who expressed concern over the potential for a repeat of historical missteps, where the removal of one regime led to the resurgence of another.
A Divided Community
Even as joy permeated the streets, the Iranian-Canadian community remained divided on the implications of foreign military action. Many, like Ms. Tarzi, viewed the intervention as a necessary step toward liberation from a government that has long suppressed its citizens. “Diplomacy was never going to work with a tyrannical regime willing to respond to peaceful demonstrations with violence,” she asserted.
As the day progressed, Ms. Tarzi received a phone call from her sister in Tehran, who shared the shocking news of the reported death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “Everyone is happy and celebrating,” her sister informed her, a stark contrast to the sorrow that had enveloped their lives for so long.
In the evening, Ms. Tarzi and her family planned to join friends at a community centre for further celebrations. “We want to share our joy with each other,” she said, highlighting a glimmer of hope for a brighter future for Iran.
Why it Matters
The unfolding events in Iran and the reactions of the Iranian-Canadian community underscore the complex interplay of hope, fear, and the desire for change. As military action raises questions about the future of Iranian governance, the voices of the diaspora reflect a profound longing for a free and democratic Iran. The events of this past weekend serve as a reminder that while the path to change is fraught with uncertainty, the spirit of resilience and community solidarity remains strong among those who yearn for a better future.
