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For about a year, Iranians have been leaving their country in large numbers because of the worsening economic situation and the lack of prospects for political improvement in Iran.
From our correspondent in Tehran, Siavosh Ghazi
No figures have been officially provided, but tens of thousands have left Iran to go to Europe, the United States, Canada or even Australia. The number of migrants has tripled over the past three years.
Some are parents whose children are already living abroad, but most are young engineers looking for a better life. Like Mohsen, a young computer engineer who leaves Iran with his wife to go to a European country. ” As far as I am concerned, I am leaving because of the economic situation and the lack of stability, of economic perspective and to allow me to progress as an engineer; explains Mohsen. Those who decide to leave take into account everyday life and the economic situation in general. »
A conservative retreat and a struggling economy
The control of all levers of power by the conservatives with the recent election of President Ebrahim Raïssi, the sidelining of reformers and the absence of any hope of political reforms encourage those who seek to leave.
But the worsening economic situation, with inflation well over 50%, plays a considerable role, as Hassan, a 70-year-old retiree who lives in Tehran, explains: “ When I returned after two months of traveling, I learned that two of my neighbors had sold their apartment to go abroad. Their children are already abroad. They are worried about the economic situation, inflation, insecurity. I was very surprised that in two months two of my neighbors in a small building had decided to leave, one to Canada and the other to another country. ».
More and more Iranians go to Turkey
Western countries are of course a favorite destination, but more and more Iranians are buying an apartment in Turkey where they can get a residence card at the same time. According to official figures, the number of Iranians who immigrated to Turkey has tripled over the past five years and there are now some 40,000 Iranians moving to Turkey.
To these well-off refugees, we must add those who try their luck by trying to reach European countries clandestinely via Belarus. Thirteen of them had recently been stranded on the border with Poland. Over five million Iranians have left Iran over the past 40 years and live abroad, but the pace of departures has accelerated further over the past year.
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