Despite Vandalism, Persian Cafe in L.A. Hold Memorial Of Iranian Women killed In Protests

The crackdown on Iran's hijab protest has turned violent claiming lives and destroying infrastructure. It is not only the authorities but also sympathizers of the Islamic Republic who are now locking horns with protestors. This is not limited to Iran, also impacted Iranians in a foreign land. In one such incident, café owner Roozbeh Farahanipour and his spouse found their Persian café in Westwood vandalized.

In Los Angeles County, Farahanipour last week showed solidarity in support of Iranian women and girls protesting their country's brutal regime, that is when his spouse found their Persian cafe in Westwood wrecked.

Farahanipour's spouse also a shop's pastry chef on Oct 18 went to open the cafe, but instead found the glass front door shattered. 

According to Farahanipour, the attack was carried out by sympathizers of the Islamic Republic. He feels the attack was done after he shared images on Instagram of a new memorial at the cafe honoring Iranian women killed during ongoing protests.  

Iranian Cafe in Los Angeles Vandalised

Despite, a life-threatening incident, Farahanipour remains firm on his stand to support protesters in Iran and across the United States calling for an end to the Islamic Republic's authoritarian regime over his homeland. 

He said in a report, “Compared to what’s happening to the people in Iran, that’s nothing. Until this regime ends power, no one’s going to see the peace."

Over 200 people — mostly women and children have been killed and more than thousands are arrested in the government's violent crackdown as per the human rights group's estimates. Farahanipour has been standing in solidarity with Iranian women and everybody who is standing against the regime. Farahanipour has no plans to remove the cafe's display that honors the women killed in the recent unrest, despite the hate he and his family is receiving. He added, "I will leave the table here," Farahanipour said. "For me, that’s nothing new. I’ve been getting these types of things for, almost, my entire life.”

Earlier, Farahanipour was jailed in Iran for his participation in the 1999 student protests, before seeking political asylum in the U.S. The 51-year-old Farahanipour said he continues to advocate for democracy in Iran and against the Iranian government. 

Farahanipour reported the broken glass door to the police online. Farahanipour pointed out that this task is a small price compared to what he sees happening across Iran, more than 8,000 miles away from his cafe. It’s hard watching, many times it’s brought tears to my eyes. To see people just get shot for no reason on the streets of Tehran. The people on the streets are hoping for a better life. This is the biggest chance they have in 43 years to get rid of the regime.

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