‘People of Iran have no voice’: activist speaks out at SAUJS UCT event

An Iranian activist who fled her country five years ago delivered a stark and deeply personal account of life under the Islamic Republic at a South African Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS) event at the University of Cape Town (UCT) this week. Sam Nik warned that ordinary Iranians are living “between life and death”, and insisted recent developments are a final opportunity for change. 

Nik described widespread fear, repression, and economic collapse in Iran, while also addressing questions from students about international intervention, regime change, and the global response to the crisis. 

She said conditions in Iran had deteriorated to the point where daily life had become unsustainable. “We didn’t have any economy. We lost everything,” she said. 

According to Nik, international inaction over many years contributed to the current situation. She argued that governments were reluctant to intervene because of the costs involved. “If you want to go and help a nation, you need to spend money. You need to use your weapons. You need to use your soldiers. No-one took that risk,” she said. 

Iranians welcomed Israel and the United States’s intervention, Nik said. Those criticising such involvement should consider the realities faced by people inside the country. “If you don’t have any experience of living in that situation, it’s better to keep quiet and read more,” she said. 

Central to her address was the isolation of Iranians, both through internet restrictions and regime control of information. “People in Iran don’t have any voice,” she said, describing a system in which propaganda dominates and communication with the outside world is limited. 

Even outside Iran, she is not safe. “I keep receiving threats, phone calls. I keep seeing cars following my car,” she said, attributing this to the reach of the Iranian regime beyond its borders. 

She said families are often used as leverage, with relatives in Iran facing pressure or threats when individuals speak out abroad. 

Reflecting on protests outside Iran, including demonstrations in South Africa, Nik expressed frustration at what she described as interference from groups not directly connected to Iran. She recounted instances where protests against the Iranian government were disrupted. 

She argued that the Iranian regime prioritises financial and geopolitical interests over the well-being of its population, claiming oil revenues are used to fund external activities rather than support citizens. As long as the current system remains in place, she argued, resources would continue to be diverted away from the Iranian people. 

Nik said she had left Iran for both political and personal reasons. She described restrictions on women’s rights. “In Iran, by all the laws, you cannot get divorced as a woman,” she said, explaining that even in cases of abuse, women could be forced to remain in marriages. 

She would consider returning only if there were fundamental political changes. “I’m going to go back to Iran if the law changes. And the law changes only by changing the government,” she said. 

Responding to questions about public support for the regime, she said that attitudes had shifted significantly in recent months, with neutral or religious segments of society turning against the government following widespread violence. “Three months ago, everything changed,” she said, “40 000 people killed, 300 000 people arrested.” 

But Nik rejected the idea that Iran might fragment, instead emphasising its long cultural history and national identity. She said that despite centuries of external influence and conflict, Iranians have maintained a strong sense of continuity. 

One student asked whether foreign intervention could undermine Iran’s independence. Nik said external support didn’t mean external control, and Iranians themselves would decide their future leadership. “We know our leader. We want just one person,” she said. 

Criticism of foreign involvement was unrealistic, said Nik, arguing that those opposing intervention often failed to offer alternatives. “If you’re against the regime, how are you going to free Iran?” she asked, noting that protests alone hadn’t succeeded in bringing about change. 

Throughout the talk, Nik returned to the theme of urgency. She described the current moment as critical, warning that failure to act could have devastating consequences. “This is our last chance,” she said. “If they don’t go, we are all killed.” 

Nik said she had encountered both support and challenges in South Africans. She described people here as “warm-hearted” and said the country reminded her of aspects of Iranian culture. 

She concluded her talk by encouraging the audience, particularly students, to seek out accurate information and to engage critically with what they see online. She emphasised the importance of education and awareness in understanding complex global issues. 

Rachel Segal, SAUJS UCT chairperson, thanked Nik for sharing her story, especially given the risks involved in speaking out. Segal said many in the audience could relate to the experience of having others speak about situations they do not fully understand, and highlighted the importance of listening to first-hand accounts. 

The event formed part of a broader effort to bring international perspectives to the UCT campus and to engage students in discussions about global politics, human rights, and conflict.