On 13 October 2024, a video featuring me was published on the official Instagram page of Manoto TV, a widely followed Persian-language media outlet with an audience exceeding 18 million followers.
The video was recorded and submitted by me and later shared publicly by the network. My identity and face were clearly visible, and the content expressed political solidarity with the people of Iran during a period of repression and unrest.
Following its publication, the video received extensive engagement, including tens of thousands of likes, thousands of comments, and millions of views, significantly amplifying my public visibility.
Alongside messages of support, the video also attracted a large volume of hostile responses, including harassment, threats, and intimidation. The nature and scale of these reactions reflect the risks faced by individuals who openly express political positions related to Iran, particularly when such expression reaches a mass audience.
This experience highlights how public exposure through major media platforms can quickly turn political expression into a source of personal risk. For those who document, comment on, or show solidarity with protests and repression in Iran, visibility itself can carry serious consequences.
The incident illustrates a broader pattern in which political expression — even outside Iran — is met with coordinated hostility and attempts at silencing.
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