Halton residents with family in Iran watching unrest with fear and heartbreak

By: Muhammad Aamir, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Milton Reporter

 

As protests continue to intensify across Iran, members of the Iranian Canadian community in Halton say they are living in a constant state of fear and emotional exhaustion, anxiously waiting for updates from loved ones caught in the unrest.

 

The latest demonstrations — driven by economic strain, political frustration and anger over government crackdowns — have spread through major cities, prompting mass arrests, internet disruptions and reports of violence. For families abroad, the uncertainty has become overwhelming.

 

In Milton, Sara Mohammadi says she checks her phone “hundreds of times a day,” hoping for a message from her family in Isfahan.

 

“It’s like living two lives at once,” Mohammadi said. “I go to work, I take my kids to school, but in the back of my mind I’m constantly thinking, Did my sister make it home today? Is my father safe? Every message from Iran feels like a lifeline.”

 

Mohammadi says her family has been limiting calls because of internet slowdowns and fears of surveillance. “Sometimes we don’t hear from them for a day or two. Those are the longest days of my life.”

 

In Oakville, Reza Karimi says the emotional toll has been “unlike anything” he has experienced since immigrating to Canada 15 years ago. His cousins in Shiraz have been participating in peaceful demonstrations, and he worries about the risks they face.

 

“They’re young, they want a better future, and they’re brave,” Karimi said. “But bravery in Iran can get you arrested. It can get you hurt. Every time I see a video online, I’m scanning the faces, terrified I’ll recognize someone.”

 

Karimi says many in the local Iranian community have been gathering informally to support one another, sharing updates and trying to make sense of the rapidly shifting situation. “We feel helpless,” he said. “We’re here, safe, and they’re there living through something we can’t fully understand. The guilt is real.”

 

In Burlington, Niloofar Azizi says she has barely slept since protests escalated. Her parents live in Tehran, where demonstrations have been met with a heavy police presence.

 

“My mom keeps telling me not to worry, but I can hear the fear in her voice,” Azizi said. “She says the streets feel tense, like everyone is waiting for something to happen. I wish I could bring them here tomorrow.”

 

Azizi says she and others in the community are urging Canadian officials to continue monitoring the situation closely and to support human‑rights protections for those in Iran. “We just want the world to pay attention,” she said. “Silence is the worst thing right now.”

 

Across Halton, small vigils and community gatherings have been organized to raise awareness, though many residents say they are careful not to share too much publicly out of concern for relatives in Iran. Some have been donating to international human‑rights organizations or writing to elected officials.

 

Despite the fear and uncertainty, many say the solidarity within the Iranian diaspora has been a source of strength.

 

“When you’re far from home, your community becomes your family,” Mohammadi said. “We cry together, we pray together, and we hope together. That’s all we can do.”

 

For now, Iranian Canadians in Halton continue to wait — for news, for change, and for the safety of the people they love.