Iranians Abroad and the Death of Raisi; Dance and Joy Amidst Fear and Hope

The Associated Press has reported that among Iranians living abroad, from London to Los Angeles, few mourn the death of Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash on May 20. The report states, "But the sound of laughter and joy is not always loud." Here are excerpts from this report: Some hope that the death of a powerful figure in the totalitarian Islamic Republic might bring about change in Iran, while others fear it could lead to increased repression. Maryam Namazi, a women's rights activist in the UK, says, "The world is a better place without him. He was one of the pillars of the Islamic regime in Iran and has been among them since the beginning." However, she adds, "Although Raisi was part of the government, he is replaceable. There are many others who can take his place." Inside Iran, officials heavily censor reactions to the incident that resulted in the deaths of Ebrahim Raisi, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran's foreign minister, and six others. The government has declared five days of public mourning and encourages people to mourn and show public support in the streets. Government judges have also warned Iranians against any public celebrations, and the presence of security forces in the streets of Tehran is heavy. Outside Iran, some migrants found the courage to dance in the streets. Nazanin Ansari, editor of Kayhan London, a news website for Iranians abroad critical of the Iranian religious government, says that within hours of the news of Raisi's death, Iranians gathered in cities across Europe and beyond to celebrate. Iranians abroad form a large community, including those who fled shortly after the 1979 revolution and subsequent waves who left due to ongoing repression or economic problems. What direction will Raisi's death take the political landscape? More than half a million Iranians live in the United States, many of whom reside in California. Large communities of Iranians also exist in European cities including London, Paris, and Stockholm. Ms. Ansari adds that opponents have shared videos on social media showing dozens of Iranians dancing and celebrating in the streets of Toronto and Cologne, Germany. She says, "I understand their anger, I know why they are celebrating. If you ask me, this person should have lived and been taken to an international court to face his victims and answer them. I am sorry he was not tried and held accountable for his actions." Ebrahim Raisi, 63, is a reviled figure among government opponents due to his role in the mass execution of political prisoners at the end of the long Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s (Summer 67), and he was also subject to U.S. sanctions. Furthermore, many hold Raisi responsible for the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody in September 2022 on charges of violating mandatory hijab laws. The UN fact-finding mission has also stated that it holds Iranian officials responsible for the "physical violence" leading to Mahsa Amini's death. The crackdown on widespread protests following Mahsa Amini's death resulted in over 500 deaths and the detention of more than 22,000 people. Gilda Torabi, spokesperson for the Homa Association, a group supporting Iranians in France, says, "Every member of this regime that goes is a victory for us. This is a step forward, a small victory for the people of Iran. This is a step towards defeating the regime. We are getting closer to our goal, and this gives us hope." In Iran, the affairs are in the hands of 85-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and for this reason, his death could complicate the situation. Ebrahim Raisi had long been considered a potential successor to Khamenei for the post-leader era. However, the emergence of instability in the country seems unlikely in the short term. Athletes executed during Raisi's judicial periods. Mohammad Mokhber, who was the first vice president, has now been appointed as interim president, and presidential elections are set to take place on June 28. Even thousands of kilometers away from Iran, some migrants remain cautious in expressing their opinions as critics of the Islamic Republic abroad have also been targeted. In one of the neighborhoods of Los Angeles, known as "Tehran-jeles" for its numerous cafes, ice cream shops, grocery stores, and carpet shops, a couple was seen dining at the "Pink Orchid" bakery. They told the Associated Press that while they are happy about Raisi's death, they are not optimistic that his departure will bring about fundamental changes. Among this couple, the woman, who grew up in Iran and left the country at 21, said, "Everyone knows a worse person is going to come." They refrained from mentioning their names due to fear of retaliation from the government against themselves, their families, and friends in Iran. A girl named Pooneh, who also only mentioned her first name out of fear of the Islamic Republic, told the Associated Press that Raisi shed a lot of blood and "he deserved to die." Others see signs of hope in this incident. On Sunday night, when news of the helicopter crash in Iran was released, anti-government slogans were heard in some areas of Tehran. Ms. Namazi says that after the announcement of this news, many Iranians shared bitter and sarcastic jokes and a large number of cartoons on social media. Maryam Namazi believes that while political instability may lead to increased repression of opponents and further brutality from the government, "any internal conflict opens up space for people to resist against the regime and weaken it." She says, "This incident opens up space for protests. This is what we need, which is to create change from the bottom up, not any kind of regime change from above or through foreign intervention. The people will be able to challenge this regime themselves and put an end to it."