Government clashes in Iran prompt candlelight vigil in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — High tensions in Iran weigh heavily on Kazem Yahyapour’s heart. He is an Iranian living in Raleigh who left the Middle East 40 years ago because he refused to live under the Iranian government.

Yayapour, 70, said he believes things have gotten much worse today.

“You should see all the body bags in the street. You look at it, and your heart breaks. What’s going on?” he said. “Women had no rights. Nobody was forcing them to wear the hijab. It’s religious, but nobody forced it. People did it because they wanted to. Today, the government forces it.”

He has not heard from his family and friends who still live in Iran in weeks. Yahyapour did not show ABC11 their photos out of an abundance of caution for their safety.

He said the people of Iran are fed up with the government, from the lack of basic human rights to an ailing economy with price hikes. There have been many demonstrations across the globe in response to this.

Yahyapour organized a candlelight vigil to stand in solidarity with the people of Iran. He said many of them lost their lives.

“We need some outside of the country help, like from the United States and European help. We need to get out there to help the people of Iran. They cannot do it themselves,” he said.

Stay on top of breaking news stories with the ABC11 News App