Today at 8:30 PM • Updated today at 8:57 PM
Iranians in Brabant react differently to the news about the attack by Israel and the United States on their country. There is joy that there is now a chance that the regime will be overthrown, but also fear for the lives of friends and family. “I don’t know where my parents are.”
Iranian Sara Nozohour has lived between hope and fear since the attack. She fled Tehran years ago and now lives in Heesch. Her family, such as her parents and grandmother, still live in Iran.
“I have a lot of mixed feelings. On the one hand I am happy that there is a chance for a democratic Iran, but on the other hand my country is being bombed and innocent people are dying,” says Sara. The situation hurts her: “I am against war in principle. Some fellow countrymen celebrate, but I cannot.”
“How can I celebrate while my country is being bombed?” Sara wonders. “The streets where I grew up are being destroyed, my family and friends are living in fear and uncertainty and have to flee, and children are dying. I hope for a government in Iran that respects human rights, but war cannot be the solution.”
Her mother and grandmother fled to northern Iran in the hope of being safer. “They left at night, with water, a flashlight, bread, medicine and a few cans of tuna. I heard they arrived safely, so that’s nice, but I don’t know what happens next. I haven’t had any contact since Saturday.”
“My family keeps telling me not to worry, but of course I do.”
Her father still lives in Tehran. She doesn’t know how he is doing. “That’s very scary. My family keeps telling me not to worry, but of course I do anyway, there’s no other way.”
The Iranian Armia Pour, from the Waalwijk DJ duo Vessbroz, also has mixed feelings, although joy predominates for him. “We’ve been waiting for this and we’ve celebrated it. We’ve taken to the streets and we’re happy.”
The DJ duo is currently traveling through Asia, and during every performance they pay attention to the situation in Iran. “We don’t see this as a war, but as a rescue operation. It is a redemption, a liberation. We are prisoners of the regime in Iran. So many people have been killed by the regime and we believe this attack is the only way to get rid of it.”
“I don’t know where my parents are and that’s scary.”
He continues: “But I am very worried about my family. I don’t know where my parents are and that is scary. Still, we are happy that it is finally happening and we have a chance at a different life.”
Sara also notices that there are different opinions among Iranians about the attack. She works at the Refugee Council at the asylum center in Grave, where she is in frequent contact with Iranians. “Everyone is worried and scared,” Sara notes. “People are worried about friends and family. There are mixed feelings.”
“Some Iranians find it difficult that I am also critical and say that I should mainly be happy, but I think that violence is inexcusable,” she says. “I am not for the regime, absolutely not, I speak out for people’s lives.”
She continues: “A school has been bombed and at least one hundred and fifty-three people, including children, have been killed. You can’t be happy about that, can you?”
“I hear from people that they see this attack as the regime’s only way out, but how painful is it that an attack on your own country would be the only solution? Bombs alone will not get us there anyway,” she says.
