Real Voices from Iran: Two Iranians on Media Myths, Food, Culture, Protests & Politics

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:01]The moment when these Iranian Canadians found out, Iran's supreme leader Ayatah was killed.

[00:00:12]>> Thanks God. Thanks. Thanks Trump. He's dead. He's dead.

[00:00:17]>> Hello everyone. Today in this very special episode of our podcast, we'll be talking about the story of Iran. Nobody told, nobody will ever say, but we will only hear from people of Iran who has lived their life and they are here with us to share what's the real thing happening over the ground, not from the media, not from the propaganda. And here on our channel, we have two beautiful guests with us. Uh we are not going to take names because we are very sensitive about the current situations. And today we will be talking about a very different subject which is food culture the clothes everything night life and then we can even add something about the current developments. So from my guest one I start. How are you?

[00:01:06]>> Hi I'm fine thank you. How are you?

[00:01:09]>> Good. Good nice day to be here. Actually it's not nice day in Iran but you know we hope that everything will be good soon. With that we can start our discussion. Being Iranian, what is one Iranian dish no matter where and which part of the world instantly takes you home?

[00:01:28]>> Yeah, I'm personally very kebab person.

[00:01:30]But our kebab is very different than the kebab most of the people in the world might know. When people are talking about kebab, they are most of the time thinking of donor kebab which is like Turkish origin. But we have different ones. We have h kebab kid and juja kebab. The juja kebab is the one with chicken and marinated with saffron and lemon. I love it. And the kebab kubid is the one that is with lamb, minced lamb, and it's so delicious. It's hard to make. The juja kebab is not that hard to make, but the other one is hard to make, but I love them.

[00:02:09]>> Okay, my mouth is already watering. We need to try this. I'm going to, you know, Google it. maybe take some instruction from you and try at my home if possible. I have heard a very interesting culture in Iran which is tarf where a guest must decline and offer multiple times before accepting and the host insist repeatedly. Do you think this culture of generosity and restaurant still defines Iranian society even under this political pressure? So, uh, thank you for having me here on your podcast. Um, as a matter of fact, I need to say yes. And why do I say that? The reason behind that is actually roots deep in our culture. All throughout the history, we were known to uh be the people who were humble, who were always trying their best to respect everyone.

[00:03:04]And in my opinion, that's called like kind of a cultural trait at this point that we are kind of trying to be humble at the same time respectful of the other party in case of any favors, questions or any matters in general. So yeah.

[00:03:19]>> Yeah, that's very interesting. And you know, I got an idea after we finish our podcast, we'll try this beautiful culture. Let's see how it goes.

[00:03:30]But anyways this is beauty of you know culture we come we accept we learn you know some beautiful parts which and people don't know that's that's the sad part that we don't know small little details of the country but anyways uh you know Persian cuisine is built on balance of sweet sore salty and a bitter in a single dish and which can be even achieved through fruits from a grenade, molasses, uh, dried limes and spices, different spices. And is there a metaphor there for Iranian society there? Like people holding many contradictions in balance? Well, that's an amazing question to be honest because if you're considering Iran as a nation who is like I mean as a nation with different ethnicities, different languages and lots of variety um I think the answer might lie in there that um Iran cannot be defined with only um if I want to if I want to put it into comparison it you cannot define it with only one color with one taste but it's actually Um, how could I put it the best? It's actually a series of colorful tasters, colorful like everything. It's it's a combination of different variety of things in general. So everything gathered together and that includes Iran, you know, in general.

[00:05:00]>> That explains well. And do you feel like, you know, the food which you have here has the same essence like in Iran?

[00:05:08]And do you miss it? I genuinely missed that. Yeah. But um when we are talking about like the place that I'm residing right now and uh I think it's kind of incomp incomparable. You cannot like compare like the two context because you know it happens to be a very different place than uh my home country the place that I was brought in like Ion. So, of course, I I do miss that, but it doesn't mean that this place that I'm residing in right now doesn't have its sufficient and necessary characteristics and traits to be known as something without any variety or any color. So, yeah, I do miss that. At the same time, I'm happy with the things that I'm experiencing outside of Iran as well.

[00:05:52]>> That's great to know. Talking about festivals, you know, I have heard like there was festival from person age like very very ancient and no ruse and yala night. This is also included in UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list. I don't know if you are aware of this being of uh part of Iran sometimes you know you can miss some small details but uh yet but the thing is what I feel like uh the current regime is so against the traditional festivals do you think it's the same or they support this festivals >> uh my opinion personally is that the current regime is trying his best best to make us forget about our culture and our tradition because the Iranian culture and Iranian tradition is not something in favor of Islamic regime.

[00:06:49]And also um nowadays people are more aware of keeping those cultures alive because for example I remember from my childhood like 20 years ago uh when the yaldo and norus was more simple more quiet but since the time people got more access to the internet and they found out how it's important to keep it alive and how it's important to be loud about it and how is more valuable to have it going on. They are organizing it and they are putting effort more and more on this and they want to show it to the board because the image Islamic Republic is sending out of Iran is totally not the reality and it's not it's totally not defining the nation.

[00:07:41]>> Okay. Uh it out of curiosity and this is just for audience can you explain what is this festival norus and yalda is? So as a member of the Iranian community, Iranian society, we are fully aware of the cultural importance of the um how should I put it of the celebrations like Iranian celebrations rooted rooted down in our like history and uh if I'm going to put it long story short, they are different occasions that for example when talking about norus it's like the beginning of the new year based on our calendar is technically the beginning of spring and we've been celebrating that since thousands of years ago and um I know as a matter of fact that it's not only celebrated in Iran but also in different countries surrounding Iran as well. So for example in Azaran or Tajikistan or Afghanistan some of our friends in like Iraqi Kurustan or like different places that they also have some somewhat of a celebration regarding that and like talking about Yalda is actually the celebration of the longest night. I know this is not only like um dedicated to Iran but a lot of other nations, a lot of other people also celebrate that. But um as an Iranian I could say that this is one of the most uh I mean these are like the two most celebrated events regarding the Iranian culture. So yeah and as part of this festival what you do in this what is the preparations any special food you prepare or any special dance you have something? I mean I don't know about uh this festivals like in different part of world you have different festival different preparation maybe dancing food something like that.

[00:09:24]>> So I'm going to start from Yaldo. Yaldo is the longest night of the year and for Iranian people it brings the vibe that the longest night is going to be together and we will be celebrating this night together and this darkness will be over and uh we are together in this darkness and for me as a as an Iranian in the childhood I have this memory that we were gathering in the grandparents house And the symbol of this night is pomegranate. We are sitting and pomegranate is the symbol of patience also. Uh because we are breaking pomegranate there are a lot of seeds. We have a lot of time to take off the seeds and together uh eating pomegranate and uh having the hoff. Hoff is one of the famous poems uh in Iran and reading hus together and it's more like the family night and gathering with the family and sitting eating and talking and it's pretty chill night. We don't dance in Yaldo but I want to introduce you charisi which is the last Wednesday of the year and this is the most occasion that we are gathering and dancing and in charams we are uh making a big fire and again it's a family night we are gathering with cousins most of the time in grandparents house or some family who has a big yard and good place uh making a big fire and dancing around the fire and being ready for the new year which is the first uh day of spring. And uh worth to mention our calendar is based on the sun and we have different calendar and the year starts from the first day of spring. And in the last Wednesday of the year we are dancing around the fire and being ready for the new year with the family and sometimes making ash which is one of our soups in Iran and is very common in chashamsuri.

[00:11:39]>> Okay. Uh we talked a lot about you this festival. This seems like very interesting. And with that I have a very different question to ask.

[00:11:50]This is mostly about night life. It's like there are so many restriction there so many curves but I'm not sure like how much is the real. So with uh some real Iranian people we would like to know how is night life if even it exist.

[00:12:05]>> So if it's okay I will go first and then my friend can continue. So uh a lot of people might think about that or think of that way as there is no night life or there is like somewhat of a huge restriction.

[00:12:19]It is it's true. However, that doesn't restrain Iranian people from celebrating and having their own private night lives. We know that because of the law of the Islamic regime which is like kind of I could I could 100% maybe not 100% but 90% associated with the like the Sharia law which is like the Islamic law. Uh it is kind of restricted to have all sorts of parties that people might think about >> you have like Sharia law.

[00:12:49]>> Yeah. Yeah, but it's a bit kind of complicated as well because uh the Iranian law and regulations were based on Sharia law but not 100%.

[00:12:59]So they were they were also modified during the beginning of the Islamic Republic when they they were like trying to adjust the judiciary system of the country. So it was kind of based on that but it had some alterations. So it's it's a mixture. You cannot really say that. However, if you're talking about like the parties and night life in general, you have to bear in mind that uh yeah, there are somewhat of restraints, but it doesn't prohibit people from having their own private night lives.

[00:13:27]Like um people drink, people dance and the quality of their night life is actually like I could say incomparable to the things that's one might actually think as an outsider.

[00:13:39]>> That's amazing because this always gives me illusion that it's blacked out. you don't have any nine. Uh maybe if I got it wrong or I read it wrong. I don't know. This was the assumption.

[00:13:51]>> Oh, these are the things that you have to experience for yourself once being an insider or as an outsider who has amazing connections. I mean, okay, that was a joke. Amazing connection. But you know, you need to be in touch with the society. So maybe my friend could actually like point out to some of like their own experience because um you know different people from different places.

[00:14:10]So >> these days I often say here as well that people are dancing individually. When you come from Iran to this part of the world and you saw this different culture. So how was this experience and how was this transition?

[00:14:23]>> Uh I would go for this. Uh for me I was a little bit culture shock but not the culture shock that most of the people think that we are shocked that people here are dancing. I'm shocked that people here are dancing too little because when we are gathering for example in grandparents house even though we are under the restrictions in any random occasion the celebration of the birthday of for example some uncle or grandparents we for sure have danced.

[00:14:54]There is no birthday party without dance. First time when I was invited in birthday party in Poland or in some wedding, the amount of people dancing and the amount of people actually celebrating the occasion. And I noticed that people are more too into sitting and talking and drinking alcohol. That was the culture shock for me. I wanted to stand up. I wanted to dance. We are dancing in Iran with zero alcohol. We don't need to drink to dance. is part of our DNA.

[00:15:28]>> Perhaps there's something which world can learn from Iran. You don't need alcohol to dance. You need to have some good wives.

[00:15:36]>> Exactly. We don't need alcohol to dance.

[00:15:39]We don't need a really like planned party to dance. We can just hang out, gather in the house of some friend and just have a good vibe and start dancing.

[00:15:51]>> That's very nice to hear from you.

[00:15:53]Okay. So, let's just sift towards a bit of real situation what's going on. Um, and speaking of which, I would like to ask how would you describe overall mood right now inside Iran, >> but can you ask more specific because there are a lot of aspects and areas.

[00:16:16]>> A general Iranian, how is the mood going on right now? Right now >> as we speak Iran is in war and and that's what I wanted and before this there was a huge protest from January.

[00:16:31]So after the protest you are into war and that's what I wanted to know what's the general mood over there.

[00:16:38]>> So we don't have connection to our family or friends.

[00:16:44]It's hard to explain what is exactly going on right now because of internet blackouts and rarely people can connect to the internet and send their message out. But yesterday I could talk with two of my friends in two different cities in Iran. One of them in Tehran and one of them in another city. And both of them the wipe I got from them they have fear and hope. They are terrified about the war. They are hopeful that this war might be the end of Islamic regime.

[00:17:18]>> That's a situation where people would not like to eat. But the reality is reality. Well, yeah. If I could put it as this way, it's a roller coaster of emotions like hope, the state of scare, people being afraid, people just, you know, stay patient and wait for the next best thing to happen.

[00:17:42]And as my friend just put um there are a lot of emotions in common but uh there is a very good amount of hope out in the air in case of a change on alteration modification for the best in case of their lifestyle in case of the quality of life and the pursuit of happiness they have been asking for for a long time.

[00:18:05]>> And do you see it coming? Do you feel hope >> as an individual?

[00:18:10]Yes. because I am seeing the will of the people, the will of the public for change. So that is the thing that I am witnessing as an outsider at the current moment since the woman life freedom uprising of 2022. What has actually changed and what has not? My observation is that people got mainly disappointed from the Islamic Republic to be changing and moving toward the people need >> and anything that has changed since that very first woman life freedom uprising 2022 till here anything in the from the government side or something any liberal decision taken or it's the same stance >> from the government nothing changed from the people point of view they are more angry They were more again into not wearing hijab even though there was still risks of morality police and morality police is those police that are bothering you about hijab.

[00:19:15]>> Please uh elaborate more about what is this morality because we have been hearing about this morality police. Is this something which is very formal or it is something like they are doing in disguise? Yeah, of course. As my friend was putting uh it's a it's kind of a mixture of formal and informal instructions given to you >> instruction to the people from the government >> the legislators and some people who are actually following the orders without any any papers if I'm going to put it very simple >> they are the people who are fundamentalists >> okay >> and they are following the what what what the so-called leader instructed the the the followers based on uh the religion. You do not need to have any papers for that.

[00:20:06]>> So they are kind of governmentappointed legal person entity who is doing this moral policing or it's like informal army >> both.

[00:20:16]>> Okay. Both I would say both the followers were informal and they are they haven't been given any any sort of official uh approval. I don't know how to put it to be honest because it's actually very complicated and I do not want to sound super technical. However, they are basically either the followers or the official legislators, policemen were appointed >> uniform or it's civil like you know they disguised as civil person.

[00:20:47]>> We are not in both.

[00:20:49]>> Yes. The morality police morality police is some branch of police but they are mainly into the hijab.

[00:20:58]Erh and also like finding if someone is drinking alcohol some stuff related to this like lower level of police but they have uniform they have official car they have logo they have office they have salary they are being paid to be morality police. What they basically do they caught you doing something which according to them or their system is not cool. So what authority they have and what they can do to a normal public.

[00:21:28]>> Yeah. I'm bringing the example of myself. For example, I've been caught two times in the streets of Thran. One time I had hijab, but it was so-called improper hijab.

[00:21:43]So they have a van and they can like take you to the van, bring you to some office, take you uh take photo of you like the criminal uh and then you need to sign some paper that you promise to not be doing it again and if you repeat it then it has some consequences. I personally don't know anyone around me who repeated it. I honestly we repeated but we tried to escape. I multiple time could run away and escape because I had this signature and I didn't want to be in the position of second time being caught because I don't know what will happen but I heard like there are some fines to pay or imprisonment and there is some footage they show you like as a proof or they just will say okay you are not or they will just randomly go through the streets they pick up someone both they go randomly to the street and pick up someone who are not approving the hijab and also recently in 2022 they had this system of some SMS system that if someone is driving on the car without hijab you can send by SMS to some SMS number the registration number yes so there are a lot of grounds of abuse as you mentioned if you don't like someone you and just send the registration number and there are fines like the for the traffic uh fines for the car owner with Kian's presidency many hope for moderate shift has that hope proven realistic or is the deep state still in control I don't know why you say a lot of people had hope on Peskan because in the presidential election of Peshkan. It was the highest uh how to say it. It was the most not people voting election in the history of Islamic Republic. I don't remember the number that how many people voted but I think it was less than 30% of the eligible people for the president election. People are totally disappointed. It's not about Peskan himself. people don't have any hope on this system and after 2022 they there was a common knowledge of the people that voting for the president election is just giving legitimacy to the Islamic Republic >> okay that puts together that very nicely put together >> and how stable is Islamic Republic right now are there any signs of fractures within establishment itself >> that's a very good question but um for for the answer for the answer you have to have some inside information as far as the public could see insiders and outsider doesn't matter. I'm talking about Iranians.

[00:24:42]>> Yeah.

[00:24:43]>> Not foreign nationals because uh the Iranians were like the ones that were suffering the most if you could put it that way.

[00:24:50]>> Yeah.

[00:24:50]>> So as far as we are concerned, we couldn't see any fractures regarding uh like uh anyone in the government resenting or having somewhat of a resentment regarding the uh like the the the stuff that were done to the public.

[00:25:05]I mean not here in the public, not hearing the chanting for change or there were some people who were claiming that okay you know what uh we're actually here in the public and um we want to do somewhat of a reform >> okay >> towards you for you >> as you mentioned in your previous question like position >> Mhm.

[00:25:24]>> one of his main models was like okay we need to hear the people we we need to hear the public let them talk.

[00:25:29]>> Yeah. Well, these are just words. People desired actions. People chanted actions.

[00:25:37]People just asked for some real time, real life actions. And um well, you know what? I'm going to talk as an Iranian, as a citizen, as far as I I'm not trying to put it on anyone. I'm not trying to generalize or whatsoever to whomever who's hearing this in general, but as an Iranian myself, I didn't come across anyone who would even be able to take any steps because of the system. So, I'm just trying to be as politically correct as I could be in here just talking facts and everything. But uh maybe my friend could help me like uh after I finish this sentence. But >> they are just cementing their position stronger and stronger in the society.

[00:26:25]What people think of that?

[00:26:26]>> Well, as a matter of fact, we know that they do not have any legitimacy in the eyes of the general public, at least the majority of the general public. And if you're even thinking about any any sort of fracture we have to bear in mind that if any fracture is is is big enough to cause any changes because we have to we have to understand that okay if there is one person two people three people or a group of people if they are able to do anything in case of a change as far as I'm concerned as as as a citizen that was not seen at all >> okay >> and also is worth to mentioning who is eligible to be the candidate of president under the Islamic Republic.

[00:27:13]>> Okay. So it matters like the if the candidate changes let's say for presidency do they have their own independent view and do you really think that can change candidate to candidate?

[00:27:26]>> You cannot be the candidate of presidency without the approval of Islamic Republic. So the person who is the candidate has like close mindset, close ideology and approval of them is to align with Islamic people.

[00:27:43]>> Yes.

[00:27:43]>> Okay. Yeah. Otherwise you cannot even be active because you're going to be considered as an opposition and an opposition doesn't really exist.

[00:27:52]>> And what role does IRGC plays in shaping day-to-day governance and economic life, let's say? What do you think? Well, if I'm going to be very precise, IGC is an organization that um has the upper hand in case of any infrastructure within the country.

[00:28:15]>> Okay.

[00:28:16]>> So from there we could understand that they got their hands on every single aspect of life. They simply control but you know it's not it's it's a very complicated like uh very much complicated uh procedure. Like apart from the military force, we have seen their activities and their presence in business for example, >> in some business areas, in some educational areas. So um I would I would refer to that as an umbrella organization.

[00:28:47]>> Okay. So everything from business to government is under direct or indirect ILGC control.

[00:28:58]>> Yes.

[00:28:58]>> Okay.

[00:29:00]and the exclusion that is happening in Iran which has reached an alarming number after the protest especially after 2022. Okay. What is driving this?

[00:29:13]What does it signal about regimes confidence or is it fear?

[00:29:18]>> It is fear in my opinion. They are afraid of the people who are rising and who have a voice and they also want to plant this fear in the nation in the people. They they have this mindset to make an example and keep the people quiet. In some of the recent uprising some people got executed in 2022. They did they didn't do nothing. They burned like one of them got executed because he made a fire inside a trash can in the street. So but do you think that you know after so much of executions and they know that they don't have to answer to anyone and this gives more confidence to do more and more or let's say when you do protest over the street it kind of let's say we already speak about let's say it's more of fear but I want to understand let's say if they do it repeatably let's say executions are happening often often does this baits their confidence or not?

[00:30:25]>> Well, this is how a cursive apparatus really functions. They function based on making an example of you as my friend just said. And um it it does boost their confidence, but if only the public doesn't speak up.

[00:30:43]>> Okay.

[00:30:44]>> And two months ago, we were witnessing the public as skin desiring and chanting for change.

[00:30:52]So as my friend said it has shifted to somewhat of um losing the confidence and moving towards a state of fear because it's then you sort of lose your control over the situation and once you do not have any control over the situation your confidence decreases. Okay.

[00:31:16]And how are activists, journalists and ordinary citizens navigating this repression as of now? Are new forms of resistance emerging in Iran?

[00:31:29]>> In my opinion, yes. Because people of Iran are trying different ways of resisting.

[00:31:39]I would bring this example of recent event that after the massacre in Iran uh the 2026 this year uh the form of resistance of people changed and one of the example is that the families who lost their children they are dancing in the grave of children's which is very sad but they want to send this message to the world that we are still living and we won't be quiet because Islamic Republic doing is doing whatever they can to keep the people quiet. They even didn't let a lot of families to have the memorial for their kids when they are burying them.

[00:32:24]But the family made a memorial. They played song. They clapped and they danced because they wanted to be different than Islamic Republic. They wanted to create a border, a line between people and government >> and that this resonated with rest of the public public of Iran they kind of >> Yes. in the cemetery. Yes.

[00:32:46]>> Okay. And there must be a lot of people supporting their views who has done this.

[00:32:52]>> Some of the memorial of the people that inter people could send videos out there were huge. Almost all the neighborhood were there. Almost all the neighborhood were clapping because people believe that those people who lost their lives for protesting and being the against the government are brave and they are examples. So the hijab law remains a flash point. We always hear whenever we hear of Iran it always comes to our mind is hijab first thing. Okay. And how is this battle playing out on the streets in 2026 like enforcement, defense and everything in between? How you see this like you know the battle for hijab and the protest against it going on? The recent protest was not mainly because of hijab.

[00:33:46]It was mainly because of because people didn't want Islamic Republic anymore.

[00:33:51]Maybe people are saying it was because of economic collapse but economic collapse was just an excuse.

[00:33:57]>> So what was the trigger of the recent uh protest that happened?

[00:34:01]>> It was the economic collapse. the value of currency dropped and it started from the bazars and the main markets uh went to an strike and then after a few days more and more cities and different like people in different sectors joined to the protest but the overall message is and was that they don't want Islamic Republic anymore so all the time even in 2022 the trigger of protest is for some main reason for example in woman life freedom it was because of the women right >> that was precisely my next point what was the trigger for that protest back in 2022 >> yeah it started in the death of Masina Ammini a 21 or 2 years old girl who was visiting as a traveler from some city in Kurish area of Iran and the morality police that we mentioned uh arrested her because of improper hijab. If you find out the photos of her in that day in the internet, she has hijab but it's not approvable by the morality police. Uh so during this arrest there were some physical conflict and uh there were some like heat on her head and she unfortunately lost her life and people couldn't be quiet and people went out. I was there. I was in the streets and they started protest mainly because of the death of Masini and mainly because of hijab but it last few months and the overall message at the end was we don't want Islamic Republic >> is still considered and celebrated in Iran or it's a lost story somewhere.

[00:35:52]>> No, not at all. It's not lost story.

[00:35:54]It's a symbol and nowadays it's a symbol of woman right.

[00:35:58]>> Okay. And the younger generation talking about younger generation has the younger generation relationship with Islamic Republic fundamentally broken or there is some like still some bridge between Islamic Republic and younger generation and if so what comes next? Well, it's a lost cause at this point. Yeah.

[00:36:21]>> The younger generation, the new generation, Gen Z or even like previous generations, they lost contact with this government because of the mindset of the government. The government did not want, did not desire and did not move towards a change in case of communicating with the younger generation.

[00:36:38]They decided to stand still on their viewpoints since 47 years ago. They didn't want to change because they considered themselves as fundamentalists.

[00:36:48]They never approved of any sort of reform reformations or whatsoever. Even though there were people inside of the government that really wanted or let's put it this way, they really said they really claimed that some of the change was achievable. Mhm.

[00:37:06]>> But come on. In such a system that is unable to communicate with its public, especially the younger generation that doesn't go align with the same pace as the universe is going as around it is going towards development.

[00:37:20]>> I don't think it's actually like possible to stay connected let alone build new communication to your new generation.

[00:37:28]>> So in the government itself or in the Islamic regime is there recruitment of younger generation lately? Do you see it like this or they will have certain people selectively picked up because they have thoughts aligned towards them?

[00:37:44]>> Anything everything is selective.

[00:37:46]>> Okay.

[00:37:47]>> You have to go through filters.

[00:37:48]>> Mhm. And majority of them are ruled by very old people. Are there younger generation in the Islamic regime as well?

[00:37:55]>> Well, they decided to do somewhat of a change in case of their uh how should I put it?

[00:38:04]I don't want to say like people who they recruit but >> there are mostly the followers people who are active >> okay >> as uh members in the like government or any governmental organization or whatso but >> um even if there were somewhat of changes uh they were the people the younger people who were 100% completely align with the mindset of the system the rules system okay >> so if you're having any deviations you're not accepted Okay, cool. What we have seen is women was not just participant in the January 2026 protest.

[00:38:41]By many accounts, they were just driving force. They were leading it. What does that tell us about our Iranian women stand in relation to the regime today?

[00:38:53]So after 2022 I think women got more even angry and they got more ownership as being active against this government because >> I think that was trigger where women thought like it's our like it can happen to us or something like that they can also relate with themsel >> we were always oppressed we go to school at the age 6 year old and we have to wear hijab we are being heavily brainwashed and we are angry And after 2022, in my opinion, in my experience, this anger raised so up that we couldn't even be quiet anymore. And in any situation happened after that, we were just like a bombs which is exploding.

[00:39:38]It's because of so many years being oppressed. Okay. It's like a balcony which was dominant for so long and when it exploded, it just exploded. Let's say okay. And what I was going when I was going through internet I heard that there are so many executions and so many people killed during 26 protest that happened in January and in the very first two months I also heard like they have executed like legally on the street. I don't know if it is true or not. So how do you see this SAR escalation in the state violence specifically targeting women because this is what I came to know after researching that the large number of people who were executed were women.

[00:40:26]Well I would mention that we don't know if the large number were women or they were equal or even men were more because we don't have access to the accurate information and we don't have accurate statistics. Okay.

[00:40:40]>> And we don't have any real number. Uh but the execution in public I think it's long time is not happening. They are in their centers. They are happening. The execution itself is happening and it's a lot happening but they are not in public.

[00:40:55]>> Okay. And what about 2022 protest? Was there lot of killings after that protest as well?

[00:41:03]>> Yes, a lot. A lot of people got blinded.

[00:41:06]A lot of people got killed >> and most of them were women or it was randomly chosen like whoever is in protest they just indiscriminately fire or pick up something like that.

[00:41:16]>> In my opinion it was random. We cannot say if most of them were women but it might be most of them women because most of the population in the street were women. I'm not going to say that only people in the street were women because I was there. It was quite mixed but I would say the majority were women.

[00:41:36]>> Okay, I can see there's lot of things going on, lot of things reported in media and it's really difficult to find out which part is correct and which is like just propaganda. There are like human right investigators which has documented targeted shooting aimed at women like face and body. There is a report of sexualized violence during arrest and detention. Is this gender brutally a deliberate strategy by the regime do you think or they want to just send by you know doing this kind of activity a message?

[00:42:08]>> It's really happening. I read some narratives in Twitter X uh because so we don't have free speech or freedom of thought or speech. People are not that brave to come on the camera and say what is going on to them especially if they are in Iran. Yeah. But the anonymous accounts are active in Twitter and I read a lot of narratives that people were raped in the prisons. Uh so some of the audience might think maybe they are fake accounts and they are making fake stories. Some of them are out in Europe and some of them had talks and if we see some few people out of Iran are talking about this. So we are sure that there are a lot of women in Iran who are under the violence and harassment by Islamic regime.

[00:43:01]>> As a woman, as a girl, do you think you are safe? You feel safe here?

[00:43:05]>> Yes.

[00:43:06]>> Okay. Talking about women and girls, let's say unequal rights, marriage, divorce, inheritance, and child custody. Beyond the protest, what does daily life actually look like for ordinary Iranian women right now?

[00:43:23]right now again I would mention that is hard to talk about right now because we don't have access to the internet and people inside but I know like a lot of jobs are uh not operating because of the situation so it's not about women only a lot of companies are laying off a lot of companies got closed totally a lot of people lost their jobs >> how is the private company situation do you see Iran has investment from outside.

[00:43:53]>> No. Um, we could associate it to numerous factors. One of them could be considered as the sanctions >> Mhm.

[00:44:02]>> that were brought to the country because of the agency of the government, the ruling system.

[00:44:09]>> Mhm. Okay.

[00:44:11]>> So, if there were any investments, they had to call it off because the sanctions were intensifying. And what about let's say Iranian business they put lot of investment in infrastructure schools hospitals something you see buildings well yes and no so we have to bear in mind the again agency of the RGC which has the upper hand okay umbrella organization in case of infrastructure >> mh >> and reports are saying that there were somewhat of efforts in case of that we building the state because of infrastructures but the question is how successful they happen to be.

[00:44:54]>> Okay.

[00:44:55]>> And from my viewpoint uh they were not >> as successful as anyone would ever imagine because uh in a in a state such as the Islamic Republic.

[00:45:06]>> Mhm.

[00:45:06]>> How would you want to make any changes if you're not having a mindset if you're not posess possessing a mindset of change? So uh speaking of infrastructure I was also thinking let's say if people from Iran let's say who are who is already living there if they have to travel point A to B how the infrastructure looks like you have good trains roads how is the condition of this transportation or it's very struggle >> to be honest it's not that much struggled as it's portrayed outside of the country but we have to bear in mind of one thing Iranians always aim for the best >> yeah So um we never reached a point that we would completely not have any means of transportation but it wasn't as developed as the people desired and as the people >> Mhm.

[00:45:58]>> expected.

[00:46:00]>> Okay.

[00:46:01]>> Like it it was it never achieved it never reached that state.

[00:46:04]>> Okay.

[00:46:05]>> That we as Iranians will be like okay this is the thing that we want because we were already seeing >> better stuff outside of the country.

[00:46:12]>> Okay. But if I want to put it simply, no, we we we never reached the point to have uh any serious struggles in case of communication.

[00:46:22]>> Okay, >> it's doable.

[00:46:24]>> It's doable, >> but it could be better.

[00:46:25]>> It could be better because you know it's always aiming for the best.

[00:46:29]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:46:30]>> That's how world works. That how life works. Aim for the better. But anyways uh talking about this blackouts which we just discussed uh because I was going through lot of articles as well like you know and it says like there are lot of Iranian women's they are excluded from the government positions they face kind of discrimination and they rely on informal way that is on mostly on online micro economies okay and something like you know beauty services tutori tutorials or handiccrafts after this internet breakout have their life got devastated or they have moved on and what they are up to let's say how they are surviving economically. So now it's worth mentioning that there are some discrimination and there are some jobs that women are getting into it harder especially like in the ministries and higher governmental positions or working in mine mines which is like international issue. Yeah. But yeah I would admit that women are struggling and they have harder time to get into the higher governmental positions or working as a judge. But if you go into the lower levels of job, I mean by lower level, lower governmental level, not in the higher governmental ranks but in the industries like being engineer, being nurse, being doctor, being teacher, being working in offices, working in banks, working in governmental offices, in city halls. There are no restrictions. Uh and women are active.

[00:48:14]There are a lot of jobs in bank. My aunt is working in bank. Some of my aunts are teacher. Some of my aunts are nurse.

[00:48:22]Some of my family are women and they are doctor. So there are not limitations on non-governmental high rank. Yes.

[00:48:31]>> It's not like we here like there is some suppression on women when it comes to government job or something.

[00:48:37]>> Yes. As I mentioned, it's more in the higher ranks governmental job like working in minus3 or working in court as a judge. This is some kind of stereotype or like being brought broadcasted in the western society that women in Iran are not in society because they are. I studied engineering in Iran and I would say when I was a student in the technical university the population of women in the university is not like 50/50 between women and men but it's everywhere like this because I've seen like engineering in Europe some of the universities in some faculties in some university I even see the women are less >> and that's why we wanted to hear directly from you someone who lived in Iran what is the real truth and what is myth let's say we were always told that women are very surprised that they don't get the government jobs but this is like partially true and that's good to know that and how about the girls education in Iran do you think they get support system as the guys or is there any discrimination uh in the schools >> education system in Iran is again overall very outdated let's say so it's for both like it's for women and men there are not like directly and strictly less opportunities for girls in schools when I'm talking about the schools I'm talking about high school and lower not university uh there might be in some regions uh some more discrimination but the overall and general view I didn't feel personally But I wor mention it that I'm was growing up in big city and I also left was living in Thran for a long time. So I didn't feel it but I've heard that in some regions and cities there might be some discrimination but we have separated schools for girls and boys. We are not mixed.

[00:50:46]>> Mhm. So you are saying it's a general thing or it's a let's say it's somewhere it will be like girls school and boys school and somewhere it can be co-ed or it's like completely throughout the Iran you have separate schools for boys and girls >> it is totally separate in all Iran for boys and girls and I don't think if the girls school are less or they are like not enough space for them I think every girl can go to school. Okay, cool. And speaking of girls and women, how cannot we talk about our noble lure trait which is Nargus Muhammadi. So which has become recently a global symbol of Iranian women power and resistance. Let's put it in this way. So how important are these individual figure and is there risk the moment becomes too dependent on icon rather than structure? What do you think of this?

[00:51:44]>> I personally don't have any strong opinion >> and I didn't follow about her or reading some of her like statements. So I cannot have opinion on this but the fact that the Nobel Peace Prize uh honor is in the prisons of Islamic Republic shows the oppressive and brutality of this regime >> let's say symbol >> but then do you think that she is so celebrated there that the risk of movement that's currently going on becomes too dependent on icons rather than the structure.

[00:52:25]>> So I guess uh with the changes that we are seeing in the society, people have come to this realization that uh somewhat of an alteration is needed collectively rather than uh relying on one personality as the sole personality bringing uh bringing about change. So I think the Iranian society has learned its lesson unfortunately in the hard way by experiencing like lots of casualties all throughout the years. But um yeah, I I guess uh the chances are always laying out there, but the chances are lower than ever. So yeah.

[00:52:58]>> Okay. So as a Iranian, did you ever heard of Nargus Muhammadi before or you just came to know after she was awarded this Nobel Prize?

[00:53:08]>> No, she was active uh she was active in Iran such uh like like uh like she's also another person who won the uh Nobel Prize. Yeah. uh there are the figures who were active like continuously for for like maybe decades. However, um I think the problems uh inside of the Iranian society were just too much to rely on one personality, >> you know, just just just to focus on one person because there are also a lot of people who never like won any prize, but they were also active and right now they're either incarcerated or uh they were like murdered or I don't know they they just they just decided to take some time off. In a way it's good that it happened to Iran like there's a lady who won and it spreads a bit of awareness about things which is happening inside Iran. I guess >> yeah I think it can still benefit the Iranian nation because it can broadcast the reality of Islamic Republic and the lack of freedom of speech.

[00:54:14]>> Yep. In recent part we have been hearing a lot about sanction on Iran. There's inflation. There's currency collapse and sanctions. How is the average Iranian family actually coping economically right now? Very difficult situation.

[00:54:31]Iranian people, Iranian families are struggling to make a living. Even though they're very hardwork, they are going after uh whatever uh they could to actually make ends meet.

[00:54:43]>> Mhm.

[00:54:43]>> But um it's it's a very hard situation especially like if you if you date back to 2 months ago. Mhm.

[00:54:50]>> We see that there were like uh protests starting uh right from the bazaar >> bazaar. Okay. Mhm.

[00:54:57]>> Even the businessmen >> were like upset about the current situation let alone the the families who are who are not active that much in business sector but um they're facing very devastating times and >> does it reflect this change reflect like lot of sanctions on normal civilian it affects >> ah that's a very good question because we have to be careful what uh what we say not to speak >> the language of supporters of the Islamic regime or the operating system, >> however you want to call it.

[00:55:33]>> Okay, that's totally understandable.

[00:55:35]>> Yeah, because this is the this is the um argument they always use that okay, Mr. US, Mr. Yuan or whomever, you have to put sanctions on the innocent civilians.

[00:55:47]But they do not they do not acknowledge and confess the main reasoning behind those sanctions for what those sanctions were taken into consideration. You must congratulate uh the government there for becoming world's most sanctioned country.

[00:56:03]>> Do not congratulate that but I get your viewpoint. However, um as I said before it's a very difficult time. It's a very dark these are dark time right now that we are experiencing especially in the recent in recent century but um more or less all of these have happened to the current state of the Iranian society in case of asking for change and we have to bear in mind that Iranian society opted for all all sorts of civil like civil activism.

[00:56:31]>> Mhm.

[00:56:32]>> They they did everything for the past 20 30 years but it was not a success.

[00:56:36]>> Mhm. Yeah.

[00:56:37]>> So, you know, yes, we are the most sanctioned. I still do not know if you're still the most sanctioned because Russia took our place.

[00:56:46]>> Yeah. There is always challenges and competitors.

[00:56:50]>> Yeah. And uh this has put a lot of difficulty on the Iranian society.

[00:56:54]However, again we have to bear in mind the agency of the ruling system who does not confess which does not confess its agency in case of those sanctions being implemented on the innocence civilians.

[00:57:09]>> Okay. It sounds like uh the general people of Iran is suffer but not the regime is getting affected by the sanctions.

[00:57:20]>> Exactly.

[00:57:21]>> So >> unfortunately >> Yeah. That's a sad state of affairs.

[00:57:25]>> It has it has brought a monopoly into the state of Iran. Like everything has become a monopoly because uh there are people who are in charge of uh taking care of the situation but the question arises okay what is really happening there is no transparency >> inside or outside of the country.

[00:57:44]>> There is no traceable track.

[00:57:46]>> Mhm. So yeah, the people who are active are benefiting the most.

[00:57:53]>> Okay, like I said, it sounds very sad, but anyways, do sanctions act as a tool of pressure or they ultimately strengthen the regime while crushing ordinary people.

[00:58:07]>> As you mentioned, collectively, >> the idea was to put pressure on a on the ruling system.

[00:58:14]>> Yeah. it didn't happen to be a success because it was only the ordinary people who were suffering um because of the sanctions implemented on them.

[00:58:26]>> Uh there were always people who who drifted. There were always people who found a way out.

[00:58:31]>> But if you're talking about the general public, >> they were the most hurt. What message you have for a western policy makers about Iran that they consistently get wrong? What could be it?

[00:58:46]>> I would say that the people of Iran are different than Islamic regime.

[00:58:50]>> Mhm.

[00:58:52]>> And they should stop spreading stereotypes about Iranian people.

[00:59:00]And as the legitimacy of Islamic Republic is almost gone inside Iran, >> they should admit it and they should stop collaborating and shaking hand with the murderers of the people.

[00:59:15]>> If it was up to me, I would just answer with one sentence. Hear them people of Ian out.

[00:59:23]>> Hear them out.

[00:59:24]>> Okay, that's a nice way to really hear out. Just hear them out. Sometimes simple thing have really big power. And what gives you hope if anything when you look at Iran's future? Dreaming or thinking or imagining Iran without the Islamic Republic is something that I think nowadays most of the Iranians are thinking about and making this themsel to survive the situation.

[00:59:55]And I'm pretty sure the Iran without Islamic Republic can grow pretty fast because we have 90 million population most of the people are hard workers are educated.

[01:00:08]>> Mhm.

[01:00:08]>> And near 10 million of the population are living abroad.

[01:00:14]So most of them are educated, most of educated, most of them are working in like well-known companies and industries.

[01:00:22]>> Mhm.

[01:00:24]and they are willing to go back and help country out to rebuild and grow. I know personally some people who are successful people in Europe and they will to go back and help the country out to rebuild. We are just waiting for the moment that Islamic Republic is gone and we start hard work to push the country toward the growth. So there is a hope among people.

[01:00:53]>> There is a hope. Everybody is waiting for that moment and I yesterday was able to connect with some of my friends in Iran and we were chatting.

[01:01:05]I don't know if I mentioned it during the talk or no but I was asking their opinion and their feeling and they said they are terrified about war.

[01:01:14]>> Mhm. But they are the most terrified imagining the moment that war is over and Islamic Republic is there. And they were saying they are keeping alive themselves by the dream of Iran without Islamic Republic.

[01:01:30]>> Wow. That's something very commendable.

[01:01:34]The message to Iranian people is stay strong. And before we end, I have a very interesting subject to ask and discuss with you. Since you are here as Iranian person, I would like to know in future if one has to travel to Iran, what places could be it and what should people traditionally try to experience Iranian culture. I would say in the beginning that Iran is a very big country and very diverse climate and culture and >> Mhm.

[01:02:09]>> So definitely people should travel Iran more than once because it won't be enough time to visit the most of Iran in less than like one go.

[01:02:19]>> Mhm. But I would suggest people to start with Isan and Shiraas >> and go to the south enjoy the islands dash and mostly >> then also definitely visiting Tehran as a capital because Tehran itself is huge city and from north to south different vibe, different architecture and that was one of my hobbies to just walk in the streets of Tyran and see how each neighborhood is different.

[01:02:52]>> M from my perspective from Persian Gulf all the way to the Mozand Sea um everything is worthwhile of being checked out. So as my friend said, I don't think one go would be sufficient enough for experiencing the true color of the Iranian culture and society.

[01:03:14]>> So it seems like I have to get multiple tickets >> and multiple times. You're always welcome.

[01:03:20]>> And I would like to visit street of Hermos.

[01:03:24]>> Yeah. In the Persian Gulf like >> it's it's amazing. We are just hoping for a better future where everyone could live in peace and calmness collectively all together without any resentments, without any fear or any darkness surrounding your life in general.

[01:03:44]>> Thank you very much. That's very beautifully put together. And with this we end our session here. That was lovely talk. Really it is very nice to talk someone who is really living there and their own perspective from which is very firsthand rather than listening from propagandas, movies, Facebooks whatever is there these days and this was so nice of you. Thank you for giving your time and having patience to have this podcast session with us and sharing your views. Thank you very much.

[01:04:20]With this we end our today's session.

[01:04:23]Can you say something which Iranians says when they say goodbye? Kudaf.

[01:04:28]>> Kudahaf.

[01:04:29]>> Kudaf.

[01:04:30]>> Kudah to everyone. Thank you.

[01:04:33]>> Thank you.