In a quiet living room in Denmark, a table is set with seven items beginning with the letter “S” in Persian, marking the Haft Sin tradition associated with Nowruz, the Persian New Year. These objects symbolize life, health, love, and prosperity, representing a celebration of light overcoming darkness. For Kurosh Torjani, a teenager who fled Iran in the late 1980s, this ritual carries a heavy emotional weight given the current situation in his country of origin.
Personal History and Trauma
Torjani’s journey to Denmark began after he was arrested as a teenager for hanging political posters with friends. During his imprisonment in Iran, he endured torture and witnessed executions, hearing the shots fired at other inmates. With a death sentence looming over him, he has not returned to Iran since, though he maintains connections with family and friends still residing there. Communication remains difficult due to frequent internet shutdowns, forcing him to rely on sporadic contact.
The Escalating Crisis
The political landscape in Iran has deteriorated significantly since protests against the clerical rule began on December 28, 2025. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, these demonstrations have resulted in over 6,000 deaths and more than 53,000 arrests. The situation intensified further on February 28, 2026, when Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran.
Torjani views the demonstrators as evidence that Iranians can no longer endure decades of economic pressure, lack of freedom, and absence of democracy. He emphasizes that ordinary people are paying the ultimate price for these conflicts.
Coping with Information
To manage the psychological impact of the violence, Torjani avoids watching television news, which he uses only for football matches. Instead, he reads newspapers daily, including international ones, allowing himself time to process information calmly and draw his own conclusions. This approach helps prevent the reactivation of trauma caused by graphic images or videos.
Through treatment at DIGNITY, the Danish Institute Against Torture, Torjani has found ways to articulate his past experiences and develop coping mechanisms such as exercise and meditation. He stresses the importance of remembering that these events involve real human lives. “It hurts the heart,” he says, urging others to question who benefits from the war and who suffers the consequences.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
