As protests in Iran have continued, more than 300,000 Iranians living in Germany have been closely following events in their homeland. Since the demonstrations erupted, Iranian exiles have taken to the streets worldwide – from the US to Australia and throughout Europe – to amplify the voices of those risking their lives, with some protests even replacing the Islamic Republic's flag at embassies.
Video: Iranian exiles protest in London / Credit: Reuters
Most exiles in Germany arrived in the years following the 1979 Islamic Revolution – some fled as children with their parents, others as young students, and still others left as adults. Even young people born in Germany grew up hearing their parents' stories, and some have visited relatives who remained in Iran.
Many exiles prefer to remain anonymous when speaking to Israeli media. "If I'm interviewed under my name, not only will I never be able to return to the country, I'm also endangering my relatives who still live there," explained Sh., 55, from Berlin. He was forced to leave Iran as a child because his father supported the Shah, and despite growing up in Germany, he still hopes to return. "I really hope the regime will finally fall and we can go back home. Many will want to return to rebuild Iran. This terrible regime simply must fall."
Like many other Iranians, M. supports Reza Pahlavi, the Shah's son living in exile, and hopes for his return. "Iranians are accustomed to monarchical rule, and I hope Pahlavi will return to Iran after the regime's fall and lead the country," he said. "Ultimately, we need to focus on what those protesting in the streets and willing to sacrifice their lives to topple the regime want."
However, not all Iranian exiles accept the monarchist aspirations of the deposed Shah's son and the camp he leads. S., 53, from Düsseldorf, remains skeptical of monarchical rule. "I think many people in Iran follow him because they're young and don't know what the previous Shah did," she said. "My fear is that the protests will lead to replacing one dictator with another. I hope the people risking their lives now will give democracy a real chance, and that Pahlavi can be part of a democratic system – not a substitute for it."
D., a shop owner in his sixties from Düsseldorf, held a transistor radio in his hand, listening to Iranian radio. "I haven't had contact with my family for several days now, I'm very worried. I have brothers and sisters in Tehran."
Before contact was lost, there were rumors that the forces dispersing the demonstrations were speaking Arabic. "That would mean they probably brought in Hezbollah fighters, Iraqis, or other forces to shoot at the protesters." D. hopes the regime will fall this time. "At first, I thought it was doomed to fail, that it would end like in 2022. But in recent days, there has been a clear change. It's still hard to imagine the regime falling, but it's no longer impossible."
S. herself was born in Tehran and moved to Germany about thirty years ago. "In recent days, I no longer have a normal life," she said. "The internet is blocked, it's impossible to make phone contact with people in Iran. I'm constantly looking at my phone waiting for updates. I have family in Iran and I really hope they're okay." She left because she didn't feel safe. "Not as a woman and not as a free thinker. I was involved in creative work, and with the severe wave of censorship, I felt increasingly restricted."
Her family paid a high personal price for life under the regime. "My sister was an engineer, worked for a large company and was very successful. But because she was a non-religious woman, she was demoted. She was pushed back, couldn't advance further because she wasn't one of them." Her brother and parents also left the country – each for their own reasons, but always because of the regime.
Despite thirty years in Germany and marriage to a German, S. continues to feel Iranian. "After thirty years, my home is still there," she said. "When I saw the lights from above on the first flight back, my heart started pounding hard and I began to cry. I don't miss anything specific in Iran – I just miss being in my home."
S. sees clear differences between the current protest and previous ones. "This time it's not just women or mothers or a specific group. There are many cities, many professions, and people from all social classes, age groups, and religions. This is a fight for survival. The economy is in a huge crisis, people can't afford even basic things – housing, food, freedom."
Despite the internet shutdown and media blockage, protesters have found simple yet brilliant methods to communicate. "When there are no means of communication, they make noise with pots and spoons, and others hear and join," S. recounted. "They also use phone lights to signal that they're outside. They're truly the light in the darkness." She noted that protesters have adopted a slogan from the Islamic Revolution and flipped it: "Back then, they shouted in the streets, 'Don't be afraid, we're together.' Today they're shouting to the regime: 'You should be afraid because we're together.'"
S. counted three major concerns troubling Iranian exiles: "First, that the regime will kill many people and the protests will stop. Second, that the regime will start a war with Israel or the US and destroy our country. Third, that people will follow the loudest leader – and he'll be the next dictator."
Despite all the doubts, hope remains. "I don't know if the protests will succeed, but this time it seems more serious than before," S. said. "There's a feeling that the world is watching more than in previous times, that Israel and America are supportive. I hope people trust each other. If they stay together – and they're in the street every day – then that's great power. We must believe that the light can overcome the darkness."
