Haleh Blake remembers the fear vividly. Leaving Iran at fourteen didn’t erase the knowledge of what awaited dissenters, but now, as an activist in the UK, a new terror has taken root: the fear of reprisal for speaking out. She acknowledges the chilling possibility of disappearing, of needing to rebuild her life under a false identity, yet her fear pales in comparison to the daily realities faced by those protesting within Iran’s borders.
“People are fighting showers of bullets,” she says, her voice laced with urgency. “They’re protesting on crutches, with baby strollers. My fear… it doesn’t compare.” Blake co-founded United4Mahsa following the death of Mahsa Amini, a tragedy that ignited a firestorm of protest across Iran in 2022. Now, a unifying figure has emerged – Reza Pahlavi, son of the exiled Shah – offering a focal point for the opposition and a promise of democratic change.
The call for a democratic, secular Iran resonates powerfully with those who fled the regime, yet long to return. Blake knows of over twenty British-Iranians ready to come home if the regime falls, but she stresses the desperate need for support from the West. The fight isn’t theirs alone.
Ellie Borhan, founder of Stage of Freedom, describes a harrowing disconnect. Living in the UK, she and countless other expats are haunted by an internet blackout in Iran, leaving them in agonizing uncertainty about the fate of family members participating in the protests. “We cannot sleep,” she confesses, “We have family members attending the protests and we have no idea if they are alive. We are totally disconnected.”
The reports are stark. Human rights organizations estimate nearly 500 demonstrators and 50 security personnel have been killed, with over 10,600 arrested in just two weeks. Borhan’s group organized a recent protest outside the Iranian Embassy in London, a demonstration that saw a protester boldly remove the regime’s flag, replacing it with a symbol of a pre-revolutionary Iran.
Despite receiving a barrage of death threats, Borhan continues to organize, her voice unwavering. She implores world leaders to take decisive action, calling for targeted strikes against Iranian military forces used to suppress dissent. She also urges the UK government to unequivocally condemn the violence and stand in solidarity with the Iranian people.
A profound sense of guilt weighs heavily on many British-Iranians. One protester, choosing anonymity, spoke of the “constant sense of guilt” felt while living in freedom while a “massacre” unfolds in their homeland. He marvels at the courage of those risking everything for a life free from oppression – a life where a woman can walk without a hijab, where singing in the streets isn’t a crime.
While acknowledging the desire for a stronger response from the UK, he recognizes the complexities of intervention. “No one wants to see their country bombed,” he admits, but concedes that US military action could potentially break the regime’s grip. He emphasizes the regime’s weakness, stretched thin by the unwavering resistance of its people.
However, not all expats believe intervention is the answer. One man, a witness to the 1979 revolution, fears that outside interference will only exacerbate the violence and prolong the suffering. He warns of revenge and further bloodshed, advocating for a more patient approach – the development of a strong, internally rooted opposition capable of leading a lasting change.
“Foreign intervention usually causes a curse,” he cautions. “We need a proper opposition with proper leadership with roots in Iran. That can take longer. We have to be more creative.” The UK government has expressed concern and called for restraint, prioritizing a peaceful transition of power, but the urgency felt by those with ties to Iran is palpable.
The bravery on display in Iran is undeniable, a testament to the enduring human spirit. It is a courage born not of recklessness, but of desperation – a final, desperate battle for a future free from fear and oppression. The world watches, and the diaspora waits, hoping their voices, and the actions of those in power, will amplify the cries for freedom echoing from the streets of Iran.
