London to Los Angeles Iranians Abroad React with Mixed Emotions to President’s Passing-Find Out Details

The unexpected death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19th, 2024 has sent shockwaves through the Iranian diaspora communities around the world. From Los Angeles to London, expatriates are reacting with a mix of cautious hope for change and skepticism that the hardline regime will simply replace one repressive figure with another. In this article we talk about London to Los Angeles Iranians Abroad React with Mixed Emotions to President’s Passing.

The Death That Shook Iran

Raisi, who was 63 years old, was a deeply divisive figure both at home and abroad. He was reviled by critics for his role in the mass executions of thousands of political prisoners in 1988 near the end of the Iran-Iraq war. The U.S. and other western nations had sanctioned Raisi over human rights abuses.

His presidency was also marred by the ruthless crackdown on the Mahsa Amini protests that erupted in September 2022 after the young woman died in police custody. Over 500 people were killed and 22,000 arrested in the government’s violent suppression of the nationwide uprising against Iran’s mandatory hijab laws and broader anger at the repressive theocracy.

When the news broke that Raisi had perished in the helicopter crash along with six others, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, spontaneous celebrations erupted in Iranian diaspora hubs like Los Angeles, Toronto, London, and Cologne.

Videos circulated on social media showing crowds of cheering expatriates dancing in the streets and waving protest banners. Some saw the president’s shocking death as a hopeful sign of the regime’s vulnerability.

“For me, I wish this guy stayed alive so he can be taken to an international court, to look in the eyes of his victims and reply to them,” said Nazenin Ansari, editor of the Kayhan London news site. “I’m sorry he won’t be able to stand in a court of law and take responsibility for his actions.”

A Glimmer of Hope

For many in the Iranian diaspora, Raisi’s death represents a potential shifting of the political winds that have kept the repressive Islamic regime in power for over 40 years since the 1979 revolution.

“Each member of this regime that goes is a victory for us,” said Guilda Torabi, spokesperson for the Iranian advocacy group Homa Association in France. “It’s one step to vanquishing the regime. We are getting closer to the objective, which gives us hope.”

Maryam Namazie, a UK-based Iranian women’s rights activist, echoed that sentiment of cautious optimism about what Raisi’s demise could mean for the protest movement seeking democratic reform in Iran.

“Any infighting opens up the space for people to be able to push back the regime, to weaken it,” Namazie said. “It opens up the space for protest. That’s what we need – from below, not any kind of regime change from above.”

The Specter of Retaliation

However, the jubilation over Raisi’s passing is tempered by fears that the regime could respond with a fierce new crackdown as it seeks to project strength and unity during a potential succession crisis.

Pouria Zeraati, a journalist with the Persian-language TV channel Iran International who was stabbed near his London home in March, is among those worried about retaliation against high-profile Iranian dissidents and activists abroad.

“The government is always looking for ways to make an example of journalists, activists and encourage self-censorship,” Zeraati said. “With this power vacuum, they may feel emboldened to strike out even more aggressively.”

Even in the Iranian expatriate enclave of Los Angeles, some feared that publicly celebrating could provoke reprisals against friends and family still in Iran. A husband and wife having lunch at a Persian cafe who gave only their first names, Reza and Nahid, said while they were glad Raisi was gone, they weren’t optimistic about meaningful change.

“Everyone knows someone worse is going to come [to replace Raisi],” Nahid said. “The regime has no humanity. They will just double down on oppressing people.”

Succession Uncertainties

Part of the broader unease stems from the uncertainties around Iran’s line of succession. As president, Raisi was widely seen as a potential successor to the ailing 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the true seat of power in Iran’s government.

With Raisi’s sudden death, the regime has called a snap presidential election for June 28th, 2024. In the interim, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has taken over as caretaker president. However, Mokhber is another hardline figure close to Khamenei and not seen as a moderate force for change.

“Raisi, however much of a pillar he was, is expendable. There are many others to take his place,” Namazie cautioned, highlighting the challenges facing the protest movement’s quest for reforms.

For Iranians at home and abroad hoping for democratic change, the mixed reactions illustrate the combination of optimism about Raisi’s death creating pressure points on the regime, but also ingrained skepticism that any transition will simply reinforce the status quo.

As Aliasghar Ramezanpoor, executive news director of Iran International summed up: “People are talking about the crash as a kind of sign of hope. Everyone sees how losing a president [caused] national celebration – which sends a powerful message to everyone in the government.”

That message from the jubilant Iranian streets may have been one of hope, but it remains to be seen if it will translate into real momentum for reform or simply be met with doubling down of the crackdown on dissent. I sincerely hope you find this “London to Los Angeles Iranians Abroad React with Mixed Emotions to President’s Passing-Find Out Details” article helpful.