A Message to My Friends in The Hague — and Beyond
Because some stories can’t be told in headlines.
Some of you know me from Substack. Some of you may have been following me for a while, some are real-life friends, and others we might know only distantly.
But to those of you I’ve met here in The Hague — parents I saw every day at school drop-off, friends from Spain, Germany, Israel, Portugal, Sweden, the US, Canada, Suriname, Syria, the Netherlands, Georgia, Albania, Iran, Turkey1, and beyond — you know me in a different way. We’ve seen each other face to face, our kids have become friends, and we’ve shared bits of life together. Even if briefly. Even if silently.
Today marked the final day of our children’s school. I’m a bit worried that we won’t see each other as often as we did during the school year, although we will try to keep in touch. With summer here, many of you are probably already on vacation. I hope you have a fantastic time!
I know that many of you follow the news. You try to stay informed about what’s happening in our home countries — especially when it comes to the regions we’re from. But I also know how impossibly complicated it is. Things are moving fast. Geopolitical dynamics are shifting. It’s not realistic to expect anyone to constantly keep up with all the headlines, all the nuance, all the layered histories and hidden forces at play.
What you may not know (though I’m sure some of you do—perhaps even better than many) is that my understanding of Iran and the region isn’t merely informed by news or analysis. It’s shaped by a far more profound source: a complex, often involuntary lived experience and a kind of knowledge that transcends academia. I don’t just feel entitled to speak on this—I feel a responsibility. And I believe what I have to share could offer a perspective that’s uniquely valuable to you.
And Iran is not just a “national” issue. It’s a glocal one — shaped by global forces and deeply rooted in local realities.
So I’ve decided it’s time to do something — even if small. I want to begin writing here. Short notes. Little pieces. Just to help make sense of what’s happening — in Iran, in Syria, in Israel, in this strange and painful web of events.
Why is there war?
What’s really happening inside Iran?
What roles are different powers playing?
What is Israel doing?
Why is Syria the way it is?
Why are so many dear friends of mine constantly worried?
Why are some of us calling home every day, not knowing if the lines will still be open?
Why is the internet being cut off?
Where is this all heading?
And deeper than all that:
Where is Iran — really?
What are its people like?
What do they think, what do they feel?
How is the world order changing — not just in theory but in the very lives of those in Iran, Syria, and across our region?
Maybe, through these notes, we’ll come to understand each other more when we meet — in person or online, in the park, at school, or even just passing by.
If you’ve received this message but never had a Substack account, I kindly ask you to consider subscribing to mine. And please, let me know if this resonates with you.
Silence is heavy.
Writing without a sense of being heard feels like writing into isolation. That’s not something I want to keep doing.
If you are silent about your pain, they’ll kill you and say you enjoyed it.
— Zora Neale Hurston
So let me hear from you — even just a line. It will give me a reason to keep going.
Oh, and one more thing! You can even chat with me here on Substack. Of course, feel free to do so if you’d like!
Take care!
Till soon!
Sajad
In no particular order. I just realized how advantageous it is to know so many people from different parts of our planet.