Some members of the Iranian-Canadian community say they were shaken after Donald Trump made a post suggesting the destruction of an entire civilization in Iran. “The Iranian people have been under the Islamic regime for the last 47 years,” Atefeh Tabesh said. “The regime that executes, the regime that killed its own people. Human rights are important and we do have a lot of family and friends back home, so I try to be the voice as much as I can.” Tabesh said she received multiple messages from friends and family in Iran after the post. “My friend was telling me that tomorrow either we’re going to be free human beings or we’re going to be dead.” She described the emotional toll as overwhelming. “I cried. My first reaction was that I cried,” Tabesh said. “It might be the last message I receive from my friends or family. Or it might be freedom for the people of Iran. It’s tough.” Tabesh said she does not trust the intentions of politicians, but had hoped the Israeli and U.S. intervention could help bring freedom to the Iranian people. “I never expected it would get to this,” she said. “We always hear threats from the Islamic regime. But I thought they would be out within the first two weeks. Being in the war more than a month and seeing them still in power scares me. I wasn’t expecting it to get this bloody.” Despite the fear, Tabesh said she is still holding onto hope. “Iranian-Canadians and Iranians all over the world are living with the hope of freedom and fear of losing loved ones. It’s scary and hopeful at the same time.”
