‘Dancing in the streets’: Iranian-Australians celebrate
Allanah Sciberras and Dominic Giannini |
Public celebrations have been largely absent in Iran for decades under a strict Islamic regime, but attacks that killed the nation’s supreme leader have created a jubilant mood among those watching from afar.
The US and Israel launched missile strikes on Iran that President Donald Trump said were aimed at ending the decades-long threat from Tehran and its nuclear weapons program.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed in the attacks.
One Iranian-Australian family in Brisbane on Sunday marked the upheaval with a traditional celebration: the sharing of cakes and sweets.
Amin, who declined to give his last name, put out a morning tea complete with signs reading “free Iran” and “Ayatollah is no more” and messaged a few friends to come down, before being pleasantly surprised when neighbours also joined.
“It’s the start of a new day for Iran,” he told AAP.
While he hailed the death of the Ayatollah, he acknowledged the coming days were filled with uncertainty about who would lead Iran.
But he was hopeful he would be able to return to Iran to visit family for the first time in years after being unable to travel there due to safety concerns.
Perth-based Hamid Yeganeh has been speaking with family abroad since the strikes and he said many in Iran had been taking to the streets to dance, chant and celebrate.
It’s something that has been forbidden for nearly 50 years, he said.
“The majority of our family and friends live in Iran and they are happy, so we have had that communication and everyone is just hoping the end is here,” Mr Yeganeh said.
Internet and phone lines have been down in Iran, making contact with people living in Tehran and elsewhere difficult.
Mr Yeganeh said he wanted those in Iran to enjoy the freedom possible in Australia, adding he hoped the strikes would end the Islamic regime’s rule.
In Canberra, a few hundred people celebrated outside the now-closed Iranian embassy to cheer the death of the Ayatollah and praise US and Israeli leaders.
Champagne was sprayed over the dancing crowd, as people prayed for a liberated Iran and the safety of their families there.
Most spoke of being unable to travel back to their homeland to see relatives due to their involvement in protests.
Fab, who only wanted his first name used, fled to Australia 30 years ago after fighting the authoritarian regime for more than a decade following the Iranian revolution.
He would have been killed if he had gone back but now he has a chance to again see his “tribe” in Iran, he said.
Many Iranian-Australians saw the events as a turning point in Iran’s history.
Elmira Bahraminejad, from the Free Iran community group, said there was hope for a better future after decades of oppression.
“There’s been 47 years of suppression and dictatorship … (people) want to thank the US and Israel for helping people inside of Iran,” she said.
AAP