Iranian Activist Reveals How Fear of Renewed War Deepens Trauma Under Brutal Regime

In Tehran, a political activist known only as Shirin lives in a state of constant dread. The sound of aircraft overhead or a sudden knock on the door triggers involuntary physical reactions and deep psychological scars. Shirin’s left hand is partially numb, a physical manifestation of the post-traumatic stress disorder inflicted by years of repression and the looming threat of war.

Shirin’s story, shared with the BBC through trusted sources inside Iran, paints a grim picture of life under a regime that uses fear and violence to silence dissent. Since the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini in custody, the government has escalated its crackdown. More than 50,000 people have been arrested since recent anti-regime protests, many held incommunicado and subjected to torture, according to Human Rights Watch.

The regime’s tactics have only intensified since the US and Israeli military campaign against Iran began in February. This foreign conflict has become a tool for the regime to justify brutal repression at home, with senior police commanders openly declaring protesters as enemies to be treated with lethal force.

Shirin recalls her own arrest in 2024, when secret police forced her into a car and tried to impose the regime’s strict dress codes by force. She was released only after signing a pledge to remain silent under threat of solitary confinement. Today, such leniency is unlikely, as the regime’s grip tightens.

The mental health crisis in Iran is worsening amid the violence. The Iranian Red Crescent has reported tens of thousands of calls to its helplines since the conflict began, while attacks on medical facilities have crippled the already fragile healthcare system. A medic in Tehran describes patients breaking down in tears when asked how they feel, overwhelmed by trauma from both state violence and war.

Shirin’s opposition to the regime remains unshaken despite losing her job and being blamed by colleagues for the Israeli-American attacks. Yet the human cost of the conflict weighs heavily on her. The deaths of civilians, including children, have shattered her resolve and deepened her anguish.

This is the brutal reality of life under a regime that weaponizes fear and repression while foreign powers escalate conflict in the region. Shirin’s story is a stark reminder that authoritarianism and war inflict profound, lasting harm on ordinary people caught in the crossfire.