Migration or Escape from a Prison the Size of a Country; I Am Escaping, Not Migrating

For hundreds of thousands of years, humanity has migrated from one country to another in pursuit of progress. However, in recent years, migration from Iran has become more of a necessity driven by despair for many. According to the Financial Times, the number of Iranians migrating to wealthy countries increased by 141% between 2020 and 2021, a warning sign that the government has yet to take seriously. Voice of America has reported on this unprecedented wave of migration from within Iran. In this report, several doctors, nurses, employees, and young individuals have shared their stories of 'despair' and the reasons behind it. Payman, whose real name is not disclosed, has worked as a nurse in Tehran's hospitals for over ten years. He states, 'Migration means escape. It means someone from a generation gets saved and lives like a human.' He continues, 'I am escaping, not migrating.' Another young doctor, who introduced herself as Samira to protect her identity, cites 'job insecurity' as the main reason for her migration: 'I see no bright future for myself and my job.' She adds, 'Even if the economic conditions were suitable, the social and political conditions have made life unbearable for me in Iran.' Payman, who blames the ineffective systems of 'the regime and government' for his despair, says, 'By the age of 60, I must be a slave and sell my youth to the employer. To this flawed system of this country. This government, this regime.' He states, 'Right now, I am a slave; there is no motivation, no hope.' The statistics on the migration of healthcare personnel are breaking records daily. According to the Nurses' House, 3,000 nurses migrate from the country each year. Samira, who decided to migrate after the protests of 2021, cites the lack of 'freedom of expression' and 'the insignificance of human beings and their lives' as significant factors in her decision. Job and economic insecurity, lack of individual and social freedoms, and a lack of hope for a better future are driving more people to seek a new life elsewhere. Consequently, many applicants spend thousands of dollars daily obtaining various legal visas, from tourist to work and study. A young woman whose identity has not been revealed says, 'Everyone wants to leave; four out of five people want to go.' Illegal migration facilitated by human traffickers is also thriving. Majid, whose real name is not disclosed, states that he once migrated to Oman for work and now intends to go to Germany: 'I have to sell everything I have and put it all on the line just to reach Germany; will I make it, or not? There is no guarantee.' He continues, 'Why shouldn't I have a second option? Why should I choose to listen to the trafficker?' The bloody government crackdowns during the protests of 2021 and the continued deprivation of individual and social rights, along with restricted access to free internet, have further frustrated and disillusioned the youth regarding their future in the country. One young woman states, 'It has become such that Iran feels like a prison for people.' She continues, 'I said I wanted to help Iran's freedom, but I can't; I realized that until Iran gets better, I can progress in another country.' She adds, 'All my peers want freedom; it feels very bad that I cannot find this freedom in Iran and must go somewhere where I am a stranger.' Political and economic pressures, 'despair for the future,' and the search for a 'normal life' are all significant factors contributing to this new and unprecedented wave of migration from Iran. Individuals seeking at least minimal freedom, stability, and peace are opting for migration and may never return. Samira states, 'I know this is just the beginning; I must go to another country, start everything from scratch, leave all my family and loved ones behind, but this is a necessity now.' Payman, whose dozens of friends and colleagues among the healthcare staff have left the country in recent months, says, 'When you enter the hospital, you see new people; you feel their absence; everyone is leaving one by one.' Increasing social and political restrictions, economic stagnation, livelihood problems, discrimination and injustice, internet filtering, and widespread expulsion of professors and students from the country's top universities have fueled this new wave of migration in Iran. The head of the Strategic Studies Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the root of migration in Iran is not economic but stems from a lack of a clear vision for the future, leading people to migrate to not be in Iran. This official's statements come as improving living conditions in various aspects is the duty of rulers and governments, a responsibility that experts say is being neglected. Accordingly, the website 'Tejarat News' reported yesterday, January 7, that over one million skilled workers have migrated to the countries bordering the Persian Gulf. The report from this economic website states that human capital migration does not necessarily involve physical relocation. Some remain in the country but work remotely for other countries. The Iranian Migration Observatory has also noted that this could be a 'warning sign' for Iranian employers at risk of losing specialized labor that is not migrating but is also not working for Iranian employers.