Iranians living in Greece spoke openly about repression, exile and survival under the regime in Iran, declaring that they no longer feared anything after losing what they described as their basic freedoms.
As symbols fell and leadership structures wavered in Iran, members of the Iranian community in Greece watched developments with anxiety but also anticipation for a new beginning. Many said they had been forced to flee their homeland to survive, while others went into exile after refusing to submit to the regime.
An Iranian woman living in Greece said that life under such a system stripped people of everything. She stated that hunger, lack of freedom and constant fear defined daily existence. She questioned what more there was to fear, even referencing US President Donald Trump and strikes on military targets, arguing that war felt insignificant compared with internal oppression.
Speaking on Live News, the president of Iranians in Greece said the regime had killed thousands of young people and filled prisons with political detainees. While others described the situation as war, he characterised it as a rescue operation for the Iranian people.
Rhea Peymani said events unfolding in Iran represented a difficult but necessary path towards freedom. She recalled her 15-year-old cousin asking what freedom meant, describing it as a dream for many young Iranians rather than a given right. She criticised a state that, as she put it, tried to force citizens into “paradise” against their will.
Members of the diaspora described stark social contrasts inside Iran, from affluent districts resembling European capitals to impoverished neighbourhoods marked by deprivation. They said enforcement of moral codes remained strict, with women reportedly reprimanded in public for dress or behaviour.
One woman described groups tasked with monitoring how women dressed or even how loudly they laughed in public spaces such as the metro. The president of Iranians in Greece added that restrictions also applied to men, recalling that even wearing a T-shirt was once forbidden during his youth.
He further claimed that religious knowledge determined employment prospects, stating that job applicants, including doctors, faced questions about religious doctrine during interviews. Without correct answers, he said, candidates failed to secure positions.
Testimonies also alleged that the regime intervened deeply in private life, including disturbing claims concerning the exploitation of minors. Community members described daily life, particularly for women, as a constant struggle under mandatory dress codes and strict religious enforcement.
A cleric speaking on the issue said he personally disagreed with compulsory wearing of the hijab, arguing that morality should not be imposed by law. Others described penalties for eating or drinking publicly during religious observances, claiming authorities issued fines or carried out arrests.
For many Iranians now living in Greece, the unfolding crisis represented both danger and opportunity — a painful chapter that they believed could ultimately lead to long-awaited freedom.
