Calgary's Iranian community looks to the future as military action unfolds in Iran
CBC
Members of Calgary's Iranian community are looking to the future as a military campaign unfolds against the Islamic Republic.
Israel and the United States launched an attack against Iran Saturday morning. According to U.S. President Donald Trump, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among the Iranian leadership killed in the strikes.
The military action against Iran came as "good news" to Calgary activist Armin Zarringhalam.
'Within two minutes of the explosions happening, every Iranian around the world was awakened, everyone was excited, everyone was like 'oh my God, they finally did it,'" he said.
Zarringhalam is among the organizers of a series of weekly protests against the Islamic Republic in Calgary over the last two months, which he says have attracted thousands of supporters.
"Our goal was to keep doing this until Iran is free," said the Iranian-Canadian. "And right now, we're stepping closer and closer."
That freedom refers to the toppling of the Islamic Republic, which took control following the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Khamenei, who played a key role in that movement, served as Iran's supreme leader for 37 years.
Zarringhalam said the latest military action "gave hope" to Iranians in and outside of the country that "people are ready to finally topple this dictatorship, this oppressive regime and finally have a beautiful, free Iran, like they've always deserved."
But not everyone has a positive outlook on the latest developments.
Safaneh Mohaghegh Neyshabouri, an associate professor of Muslim cultures at the University of Calgary, says she worries for her friends and family back in Iran.
"Honestly, I'm just in fear," she said. "The last message I got from my family was one of my cousins saying, 'oh, we haven't even bought water yet.'"
A near-total internet blackout across Iran presents communications challenges amid the uncertainty of the military action.
Neyshabouri, who left Iran after political unrest swept the country in 2009, criticized Trump for calling on Iranians to overthrow the Islamic Regime in light of the U.S. and Israeli military campaign.
"What do you mean 'rise up' when the streets are being bombed?" Neyshabouri said.
