The New Zealand flag at an Iran demonstration!?
On Saturday, I attended my first ever public demonstration. It felt strange, but as an Iranian, on this occasion, it was necessary.
On 14 February, close to one million people across the world from Vancouver to Munich to LA to Auckland, took to the streets in support of freedom.
In the sea of flags held by the 4,000 demonstrators in Auckland CBD on Saturday, one stood out to me again and again: the New Zealand flag held by Iranian demonstrators.
How often do you see the New Zealand flag raised high at protests for another country?
Why was it there?
Because the protestors understood something simple and powerful: New Zealand is free. Iran is not.
New Zealand has something Iran does not - freedom. And freedom is not neutral. It demands something from us. A responsibility to be a light for those still in darkness.
As the old saying goes, no one lights a candle and hides it under a basket. A light that refuses to shine might as well not be lit at all.
It’s easy to feel discouraged about our country at times. But step back and consider this: we possess something precious, the light of freedom.
We have inherited a democracy others are still bleeding for. And it is worth defending.
Friend, since its inception, PILLAR has taken seriously the responsibility to call out threats to our democracy, even if it is from abroad.
We believe protecting freedom means shining that light. Two quick reasons why that matters…
First - Ideas know no borders
In a globalised world, bad ideas travel just as fast as good ones. If we grow complacent about our democratic rights, authoritarian regimes will gladly fill the vacuum. The Iranian regime, the Chinese Communist Party, and other illiberal forces are actively fighting for influence in the battle for hearts and minds.
If we do not defend the values that sustain freedom, someone else (who hates freedom) will redefine them for us.
Second - Foreign interference is not theoretical. It is real.
Illiberal forces are actively working to weaken democratic nations. The United States has warned that China is conducting sustained influence campaigns across the Pacific aimed at weakening democratic institutions.
And last year, Iran’s ambassador was expelled for attacks against the Jewish community in Australia.
These are not abstract issues. These are real actors who despise freedom because it threatens their obsession with control, need to dominate, silence, and subjugate others.
This Saturday, we’ll be at the International Symposium on Foreign Interference, Nick Hanne, alongside other principled, freedom-loving leaders from Australia, Taiwan, and New Zealand will be teaming up to push back and fight for freedom.
If you haven’t signed up yet, do it here now.
PILLAR will also unveil the long-awaited New Zealand Foreign Influence Transparency Bill for public consultation, a major step toward safeguarding our democracy!
Friend, I am convinced the human spirit was made for freedom. If we are fortunate enough to enjoy even a measure of it here in New Zealand, then we must steward it with courage and gratitude.
No one lights a candle and hides it under a basket. If freedom is to prevail, we must be bold enough to let it shine.
Let’s do that together.
