Almost 4,000 people have been killed in the protests in Iran. A digital blackout has made it difficult for Mojgan Panah to communicate with loved ones.
SAN ANTONIO — Mojgan Panah was among the thousands of people marching for justice and equality in San Antonio in remembrance of the legacy left behind by civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. While marching, Panah couldn’t help but think of the chaos back in her home country of Iran where anti-government protests have turned deadly over the past several weeks.
“It’s what we do every Martin Luther King Day,” Panah said. “It’s what Iranians have been doing for the past few weeks and they’re getting killed and shot at.”
Panah came to the U.S. with her parents when she was 6 years old, following the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Communicating with relatives has been challenging and anxiety-ridden in recent weeks because of the digital blackout implemented by Iranian authorities.
“As they say, you can take me out of Iran but you can’t really take the Iranian out of me. We’re really prideful people. We love our culture, our heritage,” Panah said. “It’s very hard to know that your loved ones, your relatives and even strangers are living through this horror. You imagine the worst, wonder are they okay, are they getting the electricity, are they getting the water, are they safe?”
The internet shutdown and Iranian regime’s violent response follows demonstrations going back to December targeting the government’s authoritarian rule, economic hardship and demands for greater freedoms.
“It’s brutal, it’s very hard to watch. Things that we take for granted here are not the norm in Iran. The people cannot afford food, the people cannot dress as they wish, think as they wish, love as they wish,” Panah said.
A small moment of relief came Monday morning when one of Panah’s cousins briefly regained access to social media and sent a message, assuring her they were safe.
“I noticed one of my cousins was on social media and I sent them a quick message. I said I’m glad to see you here and they sent me a quick line back, ‘We’re all okay,’” Pana said.
But amid the violence and continued communications restrictions, international pressure on Tehran has mounted. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Iran in response to the regime’s violent response to the demonstrations, although further action remains unclear.
Looking ahead, Panah is clear about what she hopes for the future.
“The only wish that I’ve had as long as I can remember is for a free Iran,” Panah said. “The existing regime has got to go.”
Panah co-founded the nonprofit called the MEHR Foundation, which focuses on the promotion and celebration of Persian arts and culture.
The MEHR Foundation is hosting a candlelight vigil on Saturday in honor of the lives lost in the protests. The solidarity event, which is open to the public, is taking place from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Alamo Colleges District Access Building at 2222 N. Alamo St.