The Role of Iranians Abroad in Our Movement
The role of Iranians abroad in our movement, according to Iran Gate, saw Iranians abroad participating in gatherings and protests in an unimaginable way, playing a role beyond what was anticipated.
Cities such as Washington D.C., Los Angeles, San Jose, and Chicago in the USA; Toronto and Montreal in Canada; Vienna in Austria; Paris in France; London, Manchester, and Birmingham in the UK; Prague in the Czech Republic; Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Munich, Berlin, and Heidelberg in Germany; Melbourne in Australia; Madrid in Spain; Bologna in Italy; Copenhagen in Denmark; Gothenburg and Stockholm in Sweden were among the cities where gatherings of Iranians abroad took place.
Initiatives by the coordinators of protests and symbolic protest actions, such as forming human chains and large gatherings like the Berlin rally, not only drew the attention of Western politicians but also alerted the Islamic Republic to the significant and influential force of Iranian expatriates.
The Impact of This Solidarity on Keeping the Movement Alive
Undoubtedly, the government has always controlled any form of protest within the country over the past thirty years, from the student movement of July 9th to our movement, with a single approach. Suppression has been the only strategy of the Islamic Republic in dealing with dissenters, protesters, and citizens demanding their rights.
However, this time, the government could not reach a large portion of the effective protesters in the recent protest movement because, beyond the government’s imagination and calculations, Iranians abroad continuously supported and amplified the voice of the protesting people within, not only by being present in the streets of their cities of residence but also by informing and pressuring governments claiming to defend human rights, forcing them to react.
Iranians abroad, by attending parliaments, meeting with politicians, and accurately informing about the government’s violence and suppression of protesters, created a new and serious wave against the regime, to the extent that in some cases, we witnessed implicit threats against this group of Iranians by security institutions.
The Reaction of Western Politicians
The voice of Iranians abroad was so resonant and loud that it prompted reactions from key Western politicians. For instance, the German Interior Minister also reacted in support of the protests and in the context of ensuring the safety of Iranian refugees in Germany.
Nancy Faeser, the German Interior Minister, praised the courage of the protesters in a message. Iranians abroad announced through numerous calls for solidarity with the protests inside Iran, reporting on the organization of protest gatherings in various countries around the world.
Nancy Faeser, the German Interior Minister, praised the courage of the protesters in a message. Iranians abroad announced through numerous calls for solidarity with the protests inside Iran, reporting on the organization of protest gatherings in various countries around the world.
Nancy Faeser emphasized that Germany has been calling for an end to violence and suppression since the start of the protests in Iran. Additionally, the European Union has imposed very targeted sanctions to increase pressure on the Islamic Republic and hold those responsible for the suppression accountable.
In her video message, Ms. Faeser addressed hundreds of thousands of Iranian-origin citizens in Germany, saying, ‘We know that Iranians residing in Germany are worried about their families and relatives, but you might also feel unsafe in Germany. We will protect you here in Germany. German security officials are closely monitoring the situation.’
She added that the deportation of Iranian asylum seekers will remain suspended. At the end of her video message, the German Interior Minister urged everyone to defend the people of Iran, saying, ‘Let’s be the voice of the people of Iran here and now.’
An Opportunity That Was Threatened
Undoubtedly, Iranian expatriates could have been a significant tool and opportunity at the disposal of the country’s public diplomacy to present a correct and respectable image of the country, thereby enhancing the leverage of politicians and diplomats in official diplomacy. However, the government’s incorrect approach towards human capital has always resulted in missed opportunities.
This time, a considerable number of people from the country, who predominantly chose to emigrate due to unfavorable conditions in the country’s management system or for minimal livelihood and life, or for maximum advancement in their expertise and talents, have become a serious threat to the regime. In alignment and solidarity with the people inside, they are standing together in an unparalleled union, voicing their opposition to injustice and ineffectiveness.
However, sometimes some scenes and words remind us that gathering and leaving Iran may temporarily ease the minds of the government and its supporters by not seeing him and his likes, but in the end, Iran still belongs to all Iranians, and governments cannot diminish anyone’s share by drawing lines and separating insiders from outsiders, nor can they increase their own or their supporters’ shares.
The one who said history repeats itself twice, first as a tragedy and then as a comedy, saw it accurately; first, Mohammad Reza Shah showed the exit door to the dissatisfied, and what was the outcome? And the second time, the regime’s spokesperson, claiming to represent the government, condemned the protesters to pack up and emigrate, and now the exiles have become a bane for the rulers.
