Iranian Diaspora in UK Reacts to Khamenei's Death Amid Regional Strikes
On Saturday night, as bombs fell across the Middle East and rumours spread about the death of Iran's longtime Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the streets of north London transformed into a scene of celebration. Thousands of revellers filled Finchley Road, an area often dubbed Little Tehran due to its large Iranian population, waving a sea of flags. Many displayed the Lion and Sun emblem, the pre-1979 Islamic revolution flag of Iran, symbolising hopes for change.
Celebrations and Contradictions in London
By Sunday morning, the ayatollah's death was confirmed, alongside reports of hundreds of Iranian casualties from continued strikes, including at least 148 children killed in an elementary school attack in southern Iran. With the rising death toll, the celebratory mood among sections of Britain's Iranian diaspora became more subdued compared to the previous night's festivities.
Suri, a 40-year-old manager of a Persian grill in north Finchley, expressed happiness about the recent events. "We were happy, we support it," she said. "The community here, they are very happy, they are dancing and singing in the Finchley area. You know, many people they've been celebrating, Iranian and Jewish people." Originally from Tehran and living in the UK for two decades, Suri admitted Iran's future remains "very unclear, to be honest, we don't know anything yet."
Academic Perspectives on Turmoil and Relief
Gholam Khiabany, a senior lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London and a political refugee who fled Iran in 1990, described the US-Israel strikes as "expected, but it's absolutely devastating." The British-Iranian academic, whose research focuses on media and social change in the Middle East, warned of "devastating turmoil" in Iran following the attacks.
Despite his anti-war stance and fears about western intervention, Khiabany acknowledged relief at Khamenei's demise. "It's impossible not to feel a sense of relief that he's gone after everything which they have done to Iranian people for decades," he said. "But at the same time, it has also taken away the possibility of the Iranian people seeing them in court and being judged for thousands and thousands of Iranian families which had their kids and relatives arrested, tortured and killed."
Manchester's Iranian Community Voices Hope and Concern
In Greater Manchester, home to the largest Iranian population outside London, 29-year-old Mo smiled when asked about the ayatollah's death and prospects for a new Iran. Speaking from his corner shop in Rusholme, he was cautious about politics but stated, "I'm happy, of course I'm happy. Things need to change. But seeing your country hurting, it hurts me."
Mo expressed excitement for Iran's future but concern over its present situation. "I don't want dead Iranians," he said. "I want peace, which I think will come with different people in power but I don't want dead children. Soon, I hope it will end."
Calls for Leadership Change and Freedom
Ali, a 33-year-old cafe owner in Stockport who left Iran years ago, highlighted the lack of freedom under the regime. "It was a country where you weren't free," he said. "The people in charge, they were wrong. They did things that hurt the people. You couldn't say what you wanted, you can't be free if you can't say what you think."
With Khamenei dead, Ali advocated for Reza Pahlavi, son of the former Shah, to lead Iran. "We want the king to return," he said. "We want his son, we want him to rule." When questioned if Pahlavi, who hasn't set foot in Iran since his father's exile nearly 50 years ago, is the best leader, Ali was uncertain but saw few alternatives. "I don't know, but why not," he said. "He was there as a child and his mother is still alive, so I think he would make for a good leader. But I'm not sure, I never thought it would get this far."
The scenes in St Peter's Square, Manchester, where Iranians gathered on Saturday, mirrored those in London, with many expressing hope for change while grappling with the complexities of Iran's future amidst ongoing regional violence.
