Sahar Sanaei: Today’s generation in Iran knows there is no future under this regime, so they fight for freedom,
On Saturday, October 25, the Free Iran 2025 Youth Gathering was held with the wide participation of young supporters of the Iranian Resistance from Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Representatives from more than 30 youth associations from various fields shared their views.
This event, held on the eve of the anniversary of the November 2019 uprising and attended by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, was broadcast live and connected simultaneously to gatherings in Bonn, London, and Zurich. Sahar Sanaei, a psychoanalyst specializing in youth and adolescents, was one of the speakers at this gathering.
Dear Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, Dear friends who are here today. What a warm gathering. Truly, I’ve received so much energy from you. Greetings to you all. Of course, I think Mrs. Rajavi herself is motivation enough, I’m sure you all agree with me.
Since four members of my family gave their lives on this path, my father being one of them, who was martyred in Operation Eternal Light. I was only two years old at the time.
So I became familiar with the phenomenon of resistance and the Mojahedin very early on.
I grew up in a society where, in fact, people are taught that everyone should only think of themselves, that each person should strive for their own personal gain.
But on the other hand, I became familiar with the Mojahedin, who believe that when a person steps onto a path and is willing to sacrifice for a greater goal, tremendous energies are unleashed to help advance that goal.
From Self to Devotion, Where Suffering Becomes Awakening
For example, when Mona’s father was executed, Mona painted a picture of the scene of her father’s execution. What does that mean?
We saw with our own eyes in the 2022 uprising that the regime killed 80 children in the streets, and in the November 2019 uprising, there were far more than that. They are exactly the same young generation, the active generation—who are also working in the resistance units for their rights and freedom.
In fact, young people in Iran know that under the mullahs’ regime, under this government, they have no future. Half of the children in Iran live below the poverty line. That means that from childhood, they see with their own eyes how their mothers and fathers struggle in misery just to earn enough for their daily food. They witness the repression of their sisters and mothers in society. And on the other side, torture and executions.
So, in reality, they themselves know that no future can be built under this regime. And I think that’s exactly why the youth and children are so angry at this regime—and rightfully so. Why wouldn’t they be? They can express this anger through protests and on the streets.
I remember during the 2022 uprising, many teenagers wrote their wills before going out into the streets. And I think this is exactly the key point where they connect with the Mojahedin. Because who better than Mojahedin can be a model for them in this regard—teaching them sacrifice and the price that must be paid for freedom.
And I think the growing activity of these young people in the resistance units shows just how present and powerful this generation is in Iran. And I believe that with the support they see from you today, they will certainly succeed.
Thank you very much.
