Florence, Italy – A protest against U.S. And Israeli military intervention in Iran was disrupted Sunday by an Iranian activist who challenged the demonstration’s premise, highlighting a growing rift within the international response to the conflict. The incident underscores the complex perspectives surrounding the ongoing situation in Iran and the role of foreign powers.
Leila Farahbakhsh, an Iranian expatriate living in Florence for the past 15 years, stopped the march organized by Arci Firenze, along with CGIL, ANPI, and other left-wing and pacifist groups. The demonstration aimed to protest the U.S. And Israeli military intervention and bombings in Iran. Approximately 150 people were participating when Farahbakhsh stepped into the path of the procession.
“Now I want to say something,” Farahbakhsh declared to the protesters, according to reports. “How could you remain silent when the regime shut down the internet and killed 40,000 people in two days?” She continued, stating that 53,000 people are currently under arrest and facing torture. “Where were you?” she asked the demonstrators.
Farahbakhsh, an activist with the global organization “Women, Life, and Freedom,” also challenged the protesters’ stance against U.S. Involvement. “America has helped the Iranian people,” she said. “You can’t hold a demonstration like this.”
Communication with family in Iran has become increasingly difficult for Farahbakhsh amid the conflict. She explained that internet access is intermittent and phone lines frequently drop, making each attempt to connect a source of hope and anxiety. Her family remains in the country, facing the threat of ongoing bombings and internal repression.
“My people were waiting for those planes,” Farahbakhsh told reporters. She recounted witnessing friends arrested, young people killed or blinded during protests, and doctors detained for providing medical care.
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Farahbakhsh rejected accusations of extremism, stating, “I am for democracy. But those who lead Iran today do not understand the language of diplomacy.” She emphasized that she does not support war but believes the Iranian people should not be left to suffer “at the hands of those who dislike Americans.”
The activist had been scheduled to participate in a public discussion titled “Being a Woman in Today’s Iran” on March 5 at the Palazzo Pretorio in Barberino di Mugello. However, that event has been postponed, with organizers citing the need to better understand the evolving political situation in Iran and ensure a comprehensive discussion. Farahbakhsh expressed some concern that the postponement may be related to her outspoken views.
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Fiorenza Giovannini, president of the University of Leisure of Mugello, which organized the event, stated the postponement was intended to allow for a more informed discussion. “We wanted to have a greater understanding of the situation,” she said, adding that the association has previously supported the Iranian people through participation in “Women, Life, and Freedom” marches and other initiatives.
