An Iranian activist who lost an eye after being shot by security forces during the 2022 “Women, Life, Freedom” protests sharply criticized former US Vice President Kamala Harris for condemning recent US-Israeli attacks on Iran and accused Western politicians of ignoring the suffering of ordinary Iranians under the regime.Mersedeh Shahinkar, an Iranian activist now living in California, said many Iranians feel abandoned by Western leaders who call for peaceful reforms but do not support the country’s pro-democracy movement.Speaking to the California Post, Shahinkar said activists repeatedly tried democratic methods to push for change, but were met with brutal crackdowns.“For many years, we tried peaceful and democratic ways to demand change, or at least reform,” he said.He added that these were the same methods that Western politicians often urge protesters to adopt.“The same methods that some members of the Democratic Party and leftists are now teaching us. But I ask you: Where were you?”
Anger over response to recent riots
Shahinkar referred to the large protests earlier this year in Iran, stating that thousands of people died during the crackdown on demonstrations in hundreds of cities.“Where were you when more than 30,000 people were massacred in early 2026, when millions of people attended peaceful protests with their children in 300 cities across Iran?” she said.According to Shahinkar, members of the Iranian diaspora attempted to draw attention to the online protests and appealed to several American political figures.“Since January 8, we in the Iranian diaspora have left thousands of comments and messages on their accounts,” he said, referring to Kamala Harris, as well as former US presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama.“We respectfully ask you to raise your voice for the innocent children and young people whose access to the Internet was cut off by the regime.”He said those appeals largely went unanswered. “They didn’t even say a word of sympathy to maintain their mask of humanity.”
They criticize “no war” slogans
Addressing Western anti-war messages, Shahinkar said slogans like “No War” overlook the violence Iranians face under the Islamic Republic.“Yes, ‘No to war’ is a good slogan. Nobody loves war in the world,” he said.“But where were you when they shot us in the eyes and in the face? When they whipped us, harassed us and tortured us?”He argued that repeated peaceful protests have only led to harsher repression, mass killings and executions.Shahinkar also warned of the dangers of an Iranian regime armed with advanced weapons.“Imagine the brutality we have endured from a regime that opens fire with live ammunition on its own unarmed youth,” he said.“If such a regime obtains nuclear weapons or long-range missiles, what would it do to you and other countries in the world?”“For many Iranians, what is happening now is not seen as a war, but as a rescue.”
What Kamala Harris said
Harris recently criticized President Donald Trump over the US and Israeli attacks on Iran while speaking during a book tour in Madison, Wisconsin, on March 1.He described the operation as an unauthorized “war of choice” and accused Trump of risking American lives without congressional approval.“Over the last 48 hours, Donald Trump has dragged America into a war we don’t want,” Harris said.He added that he opposed a regime change war in Iran and called the operation a “dangerous and unnecessary gamble” with American troops.At the same time, Harris said Iran should never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and emphasized that American troops deserve leadership marked by “firmness and discipline.”Harris also disputed Trump’s claim that the strikes had “completely and totally destroyed” Iran’s nuclear facilities, citing intelligence assessments that suggest the strikes may have set back Iran’s nuclear program only months or a few years.
Masih Alinejad’s criticisms
Previously, Iranian-American activist Masih Alinejad also criticized Harris in a strongly worded post on X, accusing her of speaking out against the attacks while remaining silent during the mass killings in Iran.“Who are you? No, honestly. Who are you?” Alinejad wrote.“A Democrat who built a career speaking about women’s rights, but remained silent when more than 30,000 people were massacred. And now you’ve suddenly found your voice?”Alinejad argued that Western politicians frequently talk about human rights but do not support Iranians when protests are violently repressed.