‘They are in trouble:’ Iranian-Canadian describes fear for family despite ceasefire

Many Iranian-Canadians are worried over the fragile truce in Iran.

When Soheila Hashemi is looking for a taste of home, she takes a trip to Tivaasi Iranian Bakery, Juice & Ice Cream Bar in Halifax.

It’s a welcome reminder of her roots, especially with the uncertainty facing her home country of Iran.

“I don’t know what we should do. It is not the life that we deserve,” says Hashemi.

While she admits the situation looked hopeful following Wednesday’s agreement to a ceasefire, that hope quickly settled back into fear knowing things could change at any moment.

“We thought that it was going to end, that it was going to be the end of the regime,” she says.

Hashemi says she’s most worried for her family back home, some of whom she hasn’t heard from in months.

“All my uncles, cousins, aunts, everybody is in Iran. I’m very worried…they are in trouble. We cannot contact our family, our loved ones. My husband, every night he cannot sleep.”

Hashemi has been in Nova Scotia for 17 years and hopes governments worldwide will step in to support the people of Iran.

“I am a proud Canadian citizen as well as Iranian citizen. Iran is my mother. Canada is my father. So, I want both countries to be safe from those people,” she says.

“The most important wish and desire for me at this time is that the government of Iran be shut down and be collapsed. Then my family, my country, my people (can) be free.”

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