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March 14, 2026
#weekend #korero: Iranian Refugee Shares First-Hand Account of Life Under Regime as Conflict Escalates
Matthew Tukaki
Posted On March 14, 2026
As tensions and conflict intensify in the Middle East, an Iranian refugee now living in Aotearoa has shared his experiences of growing up under the rule of the Islamic Republic, offering a deeply personal account of life inside Iran.
The man, a civil engineer who arrived in New Zealand through the skilled migrant pathway, spoke with Radio Waatea’s Matthew Tukaki in a wide-ranging conversation reflecting on the realities many Iranians have faced for decades.
During the discussion, Tukaki said hearing the story directly from someone who had lived through the system was confronting and provided an insight that many people in New Zealand may not have previously understood.
The refugee explained that he spent most of his life in Iran before eventually leaving to build a new life in Aotearoa. He described a country where political dissent can come with severe consequences and where criticising the Supreme Leader or challenging religious authority can lead to imprisonment or worse.
He said protest movements inside Iran have frequently been met with harsh crackdowns, with demonstrators sometimes labelled enemies of the state or accused of crimes against religion. Internet shutdowns and communication blackouts have also been used during protests to prevent information reaching the outside world.
Many events inside Iran, he said, rarely reach global media attention. While the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022 sparked international outrage and large-scale protests, he said there have been many other incidents involving activists and ordinary citizens that have remained largely unknown outside the country.
He also pointed to the 2020 destruction of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, when missiles fired by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps brought down a civilian aircraft shortly after take-off from Tehran, killing all 176 people on board. Authorities initially denied responsibility before later admitting the plane had been mistakenly targeted.
According to the engineer, daily life inside Iran has long been shaped by strict social rules and government oversight. Girls are required to cover their hair from a young age, cultural expression has often been restricted, and schools historically required students to chant political slogans supporting the state.
He also reflected on the Iran–Iraq war during the 1980s, when thousands of young Iranians were sent to the front lines during one of the region’s most devastating conflicts.
Despite these experiences, he said Iran itself should not be confused with the political system governing it. He described the country as a civilisation stretching back more than 2,500 years, with a rich history of culture, literature and identity that he believes will endure beyond any government.
In the conversation with Tukaki, he also shared a personal moment that stayed with him shortly before leaving Iran. During a visit to a municipal building, he noticed American and Israeli flags placed on the floor at the entrance so visitors would step on them. Instead, he and a colleague jumped over the flags rather than walk across them.
He said the small act reflected a quiet form of resistance among many ordinary Iranians who do not necessarily share the ideology promoted by the state.
Now living in New Zealand, he said he often speaks with colleagues who are surprised to hear about the realities of life inside Iran. He hopes that as the current war places the country back in global headlines, the world will better understand that many Iranians are seeking freedom and change.
The refugee said the desire for freedom remains strong among many people in Iran, even as the risks of speaking out remain high.
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