Iranian refugees living in Brazil are following the attacks in the Middle East with apprehension and fear an intensification of repression in Iran. Ario Narriri, a refugee in the country for 12 years, has been in constant contact with family and friends since the early hours of this Saturday (28). Owner of a restaurant in São Paulo, he claims that the fear focuses on political prisoners held by the Islamic Republic regime.
“There is enormous concern, especially about the regime’s prisoners. In attacks of this type, they can be eliminated”, says Narriri.
The businessman left Iran alongside his wife after political persecution for participating in protests against the supreme leader’s regime, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to him, authorities confiscated assets and tried to negotiate the couple’s return. “They blocked everything we had. They tried to negotiate our return, but we didn’t talk to a regime that has the blood of our people on its hands”, he says.
This Sunday (29), Narriri and other refugees organize the seventh peaceful demonstration against the Islamic regime on Avenida Paulista, starting at 11 am. The protests began after the internet was cut off and thousands of deaths of people against the Iranian government in January this year. He reports that the movement lost participants after direct retaliation from the regime.
“Members of the regime appear to film the protests. Afterwards, relatives and friends who are in Iran suffer reprisals. They took the mother of one participant and the brother of another. Even so, we will not stop. If they kill all the young people, who will rebuild the country?”, he asks.
People must choose new regime in Iran, refugees and political leaders say
Narriri states that the choice of the next regime must rest exclusively with the Iranian people. He declares himself a monarchist, but defends a democratic process. “The model doesn’t matter. It matters that the people choose. We have monarchists, liberals and democrats in the movement. We are united for the fall of the Islamic Republic and for the right to decide at the polls”, he states.
The attacks carried out this Saturday (28) by the United States and Israel reinforce this reading among opponents of the regime. The offensive comes amid internal weakening of the Iranian government and contestation of its leadership.
United States President Donald Trump confirmed the bombings and released a video in which he called on the Iranian population to take control of the country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu adopted a similar speech. The Israeli government admits that it is trying to target central figures in the regime, which indicates that the offensive also targets the core of political power in Iran.
