Shahrokh Ahkami
— Persian Heritage, #104, Spring 2022
The ancient Norooz celebration represents the birth of spring and nature. This beginning coincides with the work of Persian Heritage which started publication in the spring 1996. Persian Heritage (Mirass Iran) has committed itself to protecting the Persian culture and presenting it to the second and third generation Iranians; those either by choice or by force who immigrated and made a new home outside of Iran. During these twenty six years, despite many obstacles, we are fortunate to remain a viable publication. This success is due to the dedication of our colleagues, our volunteer staff, our subscribers, and advertisers. Only one time did we miss an issue and that was due to Covid. Norooz symbolizes and remembers thousands of years of history by Iranians over the years and remains the joy of Iranians all over the world; a celebration dedicated to the arrival of spring and the beginning of life in the new year.
I want to thank our Persian Heritage voluntary staff and everyone who has participated in the magazine on our twenty-sixth anniversary. To all of you and Iranians throughout the world, I wish for a very Happy Norooz. I wish for you and all the people of the world that this coming year, with the passing of the cold days of winter and the awakening of spring, that all your hardships and difficulties will subside, and peace will prevail. I wish for you an end to this horrific and debilitating corona virus that has plagued us the past two years. A virus that has affected the young, old, rich and poor. I wish for you a relief from poverty, hunger, oppression, and violations of human rights. I wish for you the end of all wars that have brought such terrible destruction, displacement, hunger, poverty and death to so many people. I wish for you a year filled with peace, stability, joy and equality.
Over the past weeks our attention has been directed to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which is not different from many of Middle Eastern wars and their conflict with major world powers. The victims of these conflicts are the country’s innocent people. Because of social media and twenty-four-hour coverage of this conflict the images of the people suffering and the destruction of their cities and homes is instant. Some may think my words are harsh. Some do not understand or agree with my position and try to align me with a political affiliation. Some have cursed me for my words and writings. Over these twenty-six years I developed a thick skin and endured this harsh criticism. I remain dedicated to my values and position on certain issues and do not allow myself to be deterred by my critics. I forgive and forget the harshness of those who oppose me, and always without destain, listen and respect their positions.
As in all wars the victims of this current conflict are the innocent people; children, men and women. But in this conflict, we are seeing a strong resistance by the Ukrainian people and direction of their president, one who had no prior political experience before being elected. His profession was a stand-up comedian. Some may not agree with his policy and his resistance. Some may consider him a puppet of the West. Some may think he has sacrificed his country for the will of US and the Western countries. Some may favor his decision, not to abandon his country and take refuge in a Western nation. His reaction to this conflict and his refusal of the invitation to be air lifted out of his county during this conflict is admirable. He remains as a true leader encouraging his citizens. He pleads for military equipment and life sustaining supplies for his people in order to defend their country. We see photos of him in military garb. Some have compared him to the greatest military leaders in the world such as Cyrus, Nader Shah and Alexander the Great and others who rose to defend their county, (some have commented that the photos of President Zelensky are over a year old and the display of the same is an effort to make him a hero.) But there can be no denial of the validity to the images of the Ukrainian citizens, who have taken up arms and have and will die defending their country.
What surprises me most is the response of my own countrymen both inside and outside of Iran. Some are supporting the Russian invasion. Some are against it and support the cause of the Ukrainian people. Those in support of the Russian regime have forgotten that it was only one hundred years ago that Russian’s forced Iran to give up land and that land became new countries. Some are so horrified by the actions of the Russians. They believe the Russians will once again use their powers to further divide and exploit Iran. Some have forgotten the history of the betrayets by the British, the conspiracies of the French during the Qajar dynasty and the treaties signed, that gave away resources that belonged to the Iranian people at the time. Yes, we have convenient short memories of the British whose actions during WW I were a major player in the starvation of over ten million Iranians. Yes, we have convenient memories of how the British exploited Iran’s oil, using it for their own benefit. Yes, we have convenient short memories of how the British encouraged the US to be the source of democratic regime changes in Iran.
Another point that I would like to make here is the hypocrisy of some, who have turned a blind eye to the hardships and the loss of the life in Afghanistan, and other Middle Eastern nations such as Yemen and Syria and now give all their attention and their compassion to this war. Where is the compassion for all those Afghanis, Yemenis and Syrians?
If Turkey decides to invade their neighboring countries, such as Azerbaijan, will there be outrage by the international community. The outpouring of support on behalf of the Americans and other Western Nations for the people of this current conflict, not more than a few days old (which I hope will not extend to weeks or months) is amazing. We see open borders welcoming the Ukrainian refugees. Many wealthy individuals of Ukrainian decent are reaching out to support these innocent refugees who are fleeing the country. Money is being raised to build shelters for the Ukrainian refugees. Yet every day the pleas of millions Middle Eastern refugees, and African nations trying to take refuge in Turkey, Greece, Italy, Australia, and Austria are ignored, or they are denied entry by these countries.
What distinguishes the Ukrainian refugee from the Yemeni, Syrian, Afghani and the Libyan, etc. refugees? They suffer the same atrocities and hardships. They are losing their lives while crossing oceans and seas or from cold and hunger. And, then they are abused and harassed by their host countries.
In the last forty years I have witnessed and am astonished by the lack of empathy that exists among many wealthy Iranians who reside in the US and other countries who never paid any attention to the hardships of the Iranian refugees. These affluent Iranians refuse to help these individuals. We witnessed the treatment of an Iranian refugee, Behrooz Boochani. He is a Kurdish-Iranian journalist, human rights defender, writer, and film producer. He was held in the Australian-run Manus Island Detention Center in Papua New Guinea from 2013 until its closure in 2017. He was then moved to Port Moresby, Australia until November 2019 when he left for New Zealand.
Behrouz Boochani was sent to Manus Island in Papua New Guinea (PNG) after arriving in Australian waters in 2013, under a government policy of detaining asylum seekers who arrived by boat.
While in detention, Boochani (not be provided a pen or pencil) used his cellphone to write articles about the mistreatment of detainees, one piece won him the 2019 Victorian Price for Literature.
Did the mistreatment he wrote about make world news? Was remorse felt by these affluent Iranians against these atrocities?
Yes, the success stories of the second and third generation Iranians in the US and the world is admirable! They have become famous for their accomplishments. Unfortunately, we are not witnessing remorse, by them, on the suffering felt by the Iranian people. Of course, there are small groups of young people who are active in trying to bring this mistreatment and discrimination to the world stage, but they lack the financial means, influence, or power to do so.
I hope that affluent Iranians now witnessing the actions of the Ukrainian diaspora in support of their fellow Ukrainian men and women in their fight, will learn a lesson and copy their brave actions. I hope the affluent Iranians will reach out and support those Iranians suffering in many places around the globe.
Sadly it seems, too many Iranians, living outside of Iran, remain hopeful and believe that there will be a new US administration, like the Trump administration. They believe that such an administration will rid Iran of Mullah control and save Iran and its people. They further believe that they will then return to Iran and be welcomed. People are entitled to their beliefs! But these beliefs and dreams of those of outside of Iran since 1979 have not yet come to fruition.
But there are ways we can immediately help those suffering in Iran. Why can’t we as a group pull up our sleeves and begin to fight for justice and equality? Why can’t we as a group help our fellow country men and women in times of need? Why should we hope and pray that only a regime change will have the strength to make this change happen? Why can’t we shift our focus and disregard our personal positions on this matter and unite on helping our fellow countrymen? Let’s leave change in the hands of the willful and just perhaps the disheartened Iranians, who continue to suffer, can be saved, can have a right to choose what religion to practice and have the right to vote and choose who they want for their leadership. Let’s hope for the day that men and women regardless of their ethnicity, religion or political stand will peacefully coexist. For the last forty plus years Iranians inside and outside of Iran are wishing this wish comes true. People whose roots are planted in good deeds, good words and good work are well deserving of these conditions.
Once again I pray for peace and prosperity for all the Iranian people. Once again, I pray that they will have a future that supports the values that have been part of their inherent makeup. Once again I pray the world will see the integrity and peaceful nature of the Iranian people.
Wishing you all a happy Norooz.