“Iran was never an Islamic country… people want democracy” – Firstpost

Actor Elnaaz Norouzi has opened up about her views on Iran, its political evolution and why she feels she can no longer return to her home country after opposing its current leadership. Norouzi said that the country’s identity and governance have shifted dramatically over time. “Iran was never an Islamic country,” she told Bombay Times, arguing that the nation’s present regime has radicalised many aspects of social and political life.

“People want democracy, not extremism”

Reflecting on the aspirations of ordinary Iranians, Norouzi drew a clear distinction between grassroots sentiment and official policy. “People want democracy,” she said, adding that many citizens are wary of the current trajectory under the leadership of the Islamic Republic.

She said, “Iran is complex. What the Islamic Republic has done in Iran is not just create one Nicolás Maduro or Saddam Hussein. There is the supreme leader, (the late Khamenei), there are people and parties under him – Hezbollah, there is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), there is the Basij. They support and back the Houthis, Hamas. They are all intertwined. The Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, whose name is being chanted all over Iran. People want democracy in Iran. The Gen Z knows exactly what’s right for them. The older generation, our grandparents say they made a mistake years ago by asking for regime change. ‘We had it so good during the times of Shah. It was secular and diverse,’ they say.”

Elnaaz says Iran was never an ‘Islamic’ country

Elnaaz also dived into the history of Iran and clarified that it was never an ‘Islamic country’.

“For the past 40 years, a large population of Iranians go to sleep and wake up hoping that one day they are going to be freed from this regime. Just like in India, Iran had people from different religions, cultures and communities living there. It was diverse. Iran was never an Islamic country, it was largely Zoroastrian. Iran was Persia, and Persia was Eurasian. Before the Arabs came in, Christians, Baha’is, and Russian expatriates lived in Iran. It wasn’t just for Muslims. You had the freedom to wear what you want to wear, say what you want to say. Iran needs democracy to go back to those times,” the actor added.

Why she cannot return to Iran

Norouzi, who was born in Iran and later settled in Europe before building her career in India, also explained why she feels she can no longer go back. She told Bombay Times, “I can’t set foot in Iran. If I do, I think they will kill me. I couldn’t go to Iran because of what happened during the 2022 movement, where they killed Mahsa Amini (a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman), whose death in police custody in September 2022, ignited widespread protests. Arrested by the morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly, her death became a symbol of resistance against oppression. People went on the roads and said, We don’t even want this f****** hijab, this is not ours. Back then, I spoke out against Khamenei and the regime, and my family got really worried for my safety. If people die in this war, I’m going to blame the Ayatollah because people have come out multiple times saying we do not want you, and they did not leave. It is a dictatorship.”

Norouzi’s stance, shaped by both personal experience and broader geopolitical developments, highlights the difficult position many Iranian artists and public figures face when they take clear public positions on national politics.

Who is Elnaaz Norouzi

Elnaaz made her acting debut in a Pakistani film in 2017 before appearing in the two seasons of Sacred Games in 2018-19. She has been a part of shows like Abhay, Made in Heaven, and Hai Junoon. She has also acted in films like Jugjugg Jeeyo and Mastii 4. In 2023, she made her Hollywood debut in Kandahar, appearing alongside Gerard Butler and Ali Fazal. Elnaaz can currently be seen as a co-host on Wheel of Fortune alongside Akshay Kumar.