I am writing this to my non-Iranian friends who are now trying to understand the situation in Iran.
I feel compelled to write because I have spoken with many of you especially some of my fellow liberals, with whom I often share similar values and read your comments on posts about Iran. To be honest, I am shocked by the level of ignorance I have encountered.
I am not here to debate. I am writing to share my lived experience and to educate you about myself and my country.
The majority of Iranians expressed relief and happiness after the death of Khamenei.
The majority of Iranians have asked the United States to help remove the regime just as the U.S. helped France during World War II.
The majority of Iranians chant Prince Reza Pahlavi’s name because he is trusted, and because the institutions associated with him are deeply rooted in our culture and history. At this moment, many see him as a unifying figure for a transitional period toward free elections not as a ruler seeking power.
What most Iranians ask of you is simple: respect their choice. Educate yourself about their needs, and please stop prescribing your own version of democracy to a society you do not fully understand.
Iranians come from a civilization with more than 5,000 years of history, a rich culture, layers of complexity, and, at times, different value systems. Please stop acting as if you understand our reality better than we do, and stop promoting baseless theories.
Since 1979, Islamists and communists laid the foundation of the Islamic Republic. From the very beginning, their slogans were “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” You may disagree with Israel’s actions and that is your right—but that does not justify supporting a regime that has killed and oppressed millions of Iranians simply to remain in power.
The Islamic regime funds Hezbollah and Hamas not out of concern for Palestinians or humanity. If it truly cared about human life, it would not have killed tens of thousands of its own people. A regime that massacres its citizens has no moral authority.
To be honest, it was deeply painful to see so many of you remain silent last month or worse, dismiss our suffering by calling it a “Mossad plan.” There is not a single Iranian who does not have a friend or family member who was hurt or traumatized during the recent massacres.
I lived there. I suffered there, just as millions of Iranians have.
How can I explain to you that, as a musician, I had to request government permission for every concert or event, and that 70 percent of the time it was denied? Sometimes 2 hours before my concert !
How can I explain that women were not allowed to sing as soloists?
How can I explain that after 47 years, national television still does not show musical instruments?
We experienced a regime that came to power with countless promises. What we received instead was oppression, dictatorship, and theocracy.
I know many of you value democracy, and I understand that you may dislike figures such as Trump. But please do not allow those disagreements to blind you to what this regime has done to us for nearly half a century.
If you truly believe in education, truth, and humanity, then listen to what Iranians are asking for and respect their choice.
-Shahab Paranj

https://www.paranj.com/about/

Dr. Shahab Paranj Ph.D.

Winner of the 2024 Hoefer Prize, Shahab Paranj is a composer, conductor, instrumentalist, and educator. Born and raised in Iran, he holds degrees in music composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and the University of California, Los Angeles. He is regarded as a leading figure among his generation of composers, distinguished for transcending Eurocentric conventions and seamlessly integrating Persian and Western compositional techniques.