Syma Mohammed and Anahita Panahi

00:00 I'm 33 years old to be as of December 9th 2020. I'm currently in Scotland and the name of my interview partner is annahita and she is a sister from another mother. I love it. Hi. My name is anaheed. He I'm 28 years old today is December 9th. I'm based out of Los Angeles, California and I'm here with my new sister from another mother a friend that's time as well today at ajita, and we're going to talk to start right from the beginning. So would you like to tell me a little bit but when where you were born? I think it's always you know where you from has always been interesting to me because sometimes folks answer like oh I'm based out of this location, but there's so much more to it. So I was actually

00:59 Good morning, Copenhagen Denmark such a random place like in Scandinavia r i a country of 5 million but my parents who are originally from Iran on a flat the 1979 revolution in France Denmark. For some reason they chose to go up North and they resettle there and that's where me and my sister were born in the 90s. And so we spent about eight years before moving United States in 2007. That was an interesting. Of of my childhood time that that I cherish so much.

01:47 Wow, I mean, you know, I think it said Mark is a it's a beautiful country. It's definitely a very different from the United States as far as the quality of life the culture that people but I will say that minorities probably do feel more like a minority and the majority I was too young to understand this but I grew up and I heard the story once I caught involved in and studying political science. And that was I guess I was floored to see them on a termination against you no minority groups or Muslim group that I hadn't personally experienced, but my father would tell me for example, if you were a Danish person person versus a middle eastern person applying for a job.

02:47 It's likely the Danish person would get that job. And so that was heartbreaking to hear from the country that I was born and grew up in in love so much and you know, I I still visit from time to time. But yeah, I guess it showed the reality of you know, the I guess the Discrimination race that still exist all over the world right? I'm not just for were based out of butt and places that we wouldn't think of.

03:20 New absolutely, you know, what's your best memory of childhood and worst? I mean like growing up there as well as you and tell me a little bit about that. The best would probably be the food because you know anything of Davis food. You're like, what is Danish food? Cuz it's so Random rain on the population so small it's not widely known but there is a thing called small Port which is basically open-faced sandwiches with rye bread and they put smoked salmon and eggs and the dumb ones out on top and it's it's probably one of my favorite things growing up and we still need to stay here in the United States. So just a different Comfort Foods growing up and down Mark was something that really brought me back to home. So ever

04:20 Time I go back. You can imagine I fill up my case with no fence American chocolate. What's at speaking of chocolate? My dad had an import-export business for chocolate and candy and Denmark my God, I think somehow but he actually surprisingly name the business Anna's chocolate. Yeah, so we would go between Denmark and Germany temper chocolate. The chocolate was like and Suites are like my guilty pleasure.

05:17 And yeah, I hope so, you know next time I go and come back I could bring you guys some chocolate and you know you asked about maybe the worst memory, you know for the most part. I would say my upbringing and Son Mark was very sweet. And I and I cherish of one thing that I remember is I think more so when I came to the United States as my lack of English skills, right? I was 8 years old. I enter third grade. I probably knew a couple sentences in English and danish at the time and and Farsi and so that was a big struggle for me. I didn't bleed a little bit by boys for some reason. You know, I wasn't able to articulate what I meant at the time and so that's very fresh.

06:17 Eating icing for anyone because you feel like you can't break out. You can express what you feel when you don't speak that language. That was something that was a challenge for me. I coming to the United States and I want to bring it back to you and and kind of hear what your story is in and where you will like her up in Scotland. So I was born and grew up there. I have some of that my grandfather went to Sweden show up. So I have to say that I share that I was definitely a fat kid. Asthma like I ate like I just meant I ate a lot. I mean not my parents gave me a lot of chocolate but I seem like we definitely my sweetness predilection for sweet, that and also very sweet cheeks. I guess our sweet tooth because there's a lot of sugar refineries in Scotland has horrible Colonial history of a sleek.

07:17 But empty suit because so much sugar. We have a lot of candy that is specifically Scottish and very very sweet. But anyway, so I grew up here and although I cannot in terms of language is kind of interesting cuz I obviously I grew up my parents. My mom friends has to be so we spoke earlier when we were kids and you know, that was my first I guess language isn't my dad grew up here, but you know whom we speak and then I think I was just telling someone earlier that when I was a kid like this little kid neighbor needs to beat me up and see my mom had said to them like you to tell your child to stop hitting my child and then sell her child was and then their mom was like one teacher speak English for herself. So I think laying language is so important. I think languages of keeping a culture a track of where you come from historically in terms your ethnicity culture background.

08:17 Becomes a deciding factor in how you fit in and as well, but then there's always a sensitive position that can go on a special if your mouth feeling well and I think the way that you were telling your story coming in and be able to express you fill ER after learning to express yourself freely into other languages to come here and try and special self an English. Would I imagine her being such a child not just a challenge, but could you potentially open to bullying and does make you feel probably more marginalize because you feel like you don't fit in and I'm so many ways and I don't know your experience of feeling March 9th, but also like did you contract that? Did you do some other things to kind of help you like? Did you have music as an outlet or dance or something that you could feel a whole matter which allow you to be who you were effectively?

09:08 Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I definitely agree with what you said as far as feeling marginalized right, especially at such a young age. You feel helpless, right? You don't feel like you have much power and I think at that time I specifically I remember having friends that were iranian-american. So they spoke Farsi and they kind of help me navigate then Eustis, you know, I was a foreigner I had just arrived asleep. So it was it was nice to have friends that understood right came from my culture in my language and and did help me adjust to you know, the new home that I was in and so that was awfully nice. I think having a good support system is definitely important. But you know when you reset All Summer in you take you literally, you know, the older you are the more difficult it is to adopt and so, you know in my line of work which will get into.

10:08 That's something that we are still familiar with right and and make sure that folks have that support system when they were settling a new country.

10:19 Absolutely, describe the energy to the child or the girl or the young girl. What were you like as a child, you know what your hobbies or interests or passions? You know, what made you happy?

10:31 No, I think there was definitely besides food and sweets that I mentioned. I was a big sweetie. I still am I will always scavenge out like new restaurant on make desserts and baked but I loved exploring so young age, you know living in Europe traveling with us for more easier and cheaper than in the United States. So our family would take us on trips a couple times a year. We would go to different countries and mind you I went to you know, probably like France UK Sweden countries before I was eight, so I didn't understand last door. Sometimes you even forget these memories, but what that opened up for me by this really this big passion for me to explore out of my own culture when I turn 18, for example, I just, you know, my first flight out of

11:31 Country and I was like I'm off and it's something you know that my parents brought into me by taking a you know, taking us on trips with Cox the way I think that I've always just been a very curious person since childhood and interested in getting to know people from different cultures. I one instance. For example, I had a lot of Dean and Friends obviously, I'm in Denmark and we would go to this thing called for this young which is like an after-school type of daycare. I guess you could say for lack of better term and and everyone pork is is very popular and Denmark and I don't eat pork. And so there was you know, they would feed us food and there was a lot of like different pork items and I remember eating it along with my friends to fit in

12:29 And no one no one knew that you know, like I wasn't supposed to eat it. We don't eat it. But I was trying to fit in without that no one really cares. But when your child right you want to use things, I think instead of thinking freely at the time like we should have a child. I was you no more critical like now I need to make sure I fit in with this culture and so now I think it's completely different. You know, I Will Stand My Ground for something that I believe it or don't believe in and so I think a lot of experiences in my childhood has has shaped me and Brian today, so I would love to a mean and you were just talking about that and standing up for yourself. I mean, what do you value from your cultural religious background he knew cuz it sounds like you've you've learned to embrace it into an it into

13:29 And you know from just that what you just said, but that might not be true either. So maybe there's a teenager need maybe nine overnight Journey, but I'd love to hear a little bit more about eating. What was it that helps you feel more comfortable being a reading American or Muslim American? What are the some of the things along the way that have helped you feel more secure as you are as a person age are parents were very adamant about making sure we have the Iranian culture within our family all do you know we weren't born in Iran. And you know, I would clear first trip to Iran was probably a few years old. So our memories of you know that Iranian Cold Track sleeping and in that culture was very slim, right cuz he made sure to bring that in some other was celebrating a Genoa

14:29 Who is witches are Persian New Year every March different holidays? It was something that was very important to us. It was fun. Right? I mean we got gifts then so was it was just part of our growing up also my dad, for example, he would always say, you know in the household you speak Farsi and with speak English and as a kid. Really annoying me. I was like, no your English needs to get better word.

15:04 Forever grateful because natural my 4C is fluent and I have a lot of Iranian American friends who like whose it was first turn off when right where it's broken. And so now when I do speak to relatives in Iran are go back to you on that, you know speaking to grandparents or relatives that don't speak English. I'm comfortable enough to speak for I think that

15:34 The culture that keeping that culture within our family even though we were, you know born and raised in the west UniFirst in Scandinavia and then moving here. So it was sometimes and identity crisis. Like what are you who do you identify with? Are you American or Danish or Iranian? You know because if you just speak to me, you wouldn't think that I'm Danish or Iranian right? Sometimes I think cultures overlap right? There is you take a bit of each wine and you come into one. So sometimes it's definitely been interesting try and identify what you yourself identify with, but I'm thankful for my parents and and you know allowing us to cherish the culture that we were such a bore into

16:34 Better Reading part of Europe bringing our family.

16:45 Western are liberal or Progressive or you want to say it but all the holidays that I mention like the person we have Shabba yaldo, which is the longest night of the year. I believe it's number 20th or the 21st. We have a celebration around the table where we bring out. We fish and this rice dish and we have different pomegranate dishes. It sounds all weird, but it's really amazing and different holidays I think is what's kept us into and right even for example with Ramadan, right that is a religious thing. So like my dad for example, he does pray and he does for Ramadan, but he never has ever told us ones that you need to pray or that you need to fast. It was always up to us.

17:45 Curiosity a couple times I you know try to fast is very difficult cuz I'm a foodie so it takes a lot of mental going to the mosque with them, you know a couple of times during Ramadan seeing everyone gather food over, you know, a grad it right over just things that you want to be thankful for and I think people celebrate these things in different way to Ramadan or thinks give or a new year or just any regular day 20 small things have definitely shaped who I am and I

18:29 Amazing. Thank you and have you any names mentioned that you've having back to her or no back but a beans are and you know, and I just wanted to ask you I don't know when you first went but what was your experience about like this is something you do regularly with your family or seeing relatives. Love to hear more about that travel your ears off. So we had gone to Iran quite a few times when we were little again, so not much memory. And then the first time we went back after I want to stay like a 10 year Gap was when I was 18. So going back as an 18 year old woman, you know, you have to wear hijab. You have to modestly cover yourself. That was a big culture shock for me. That was not the thing I ever did when I was a kid in Iran, and so it was

19:28 I didn't know how to adapt even in the 2-3 week. That I was there and I didn't understand it. I remember complaining a lot just you know, just about to come out like where are the women's rights? Like why do we have to cover ourselves? Why are we the problem? It's too hot to be wearing all the different cover-ups right know as the years went on we did regularly go to Iran and and I was actually supposed to go for the holiday break, but you know the cover lock Townsend of the surgeon covid-19 have to cancel that but I would stay in my experience is now going to Iran or completely different from when I was 18 right across forward.

20:19 I go back. I see my relatives which is you know, so dear to me. It's just coming around the table and eating food as it's a big thing in our culture as I'm sure it is in your what brings people together, right? And they know you can't say no or else it's disrespectful and you know, it's the hospitality I think is is something that only experience once in a lifetime and in some people know what I'm talkin about that special type of hospitality friends and family and I think that Iran going to visit you raw not only improve my fart but really brought me in tune with my culture. It made me appreciate my culture right taking the

21:12 The politics out of it, right or just talked with the prison culture in really made me appreciate Michael years prior. I wasn't really fond of being around many Persian people are going to Iran. And now I'm I'm so proud. I love my culture. I love my people and being able to travel there and come back and share. The experience has has truly been been mine opening to me and given me new experiences to feed off of and so that's something I'm truly thankful for to have that opportunity to go back because I do have any friends iranian-american. Don't have the opportunity to go back because of a different political reasons, so that's that's very dear to me.

22:09 Amazing. Thank you so much for sharing that yeah, I always think it's really interesting to to look at our kin of is so she's third culture kids like, you know, when you're in between these couches your parental culture on your own upbringing where you are and you know, a lot of times we go through this especially if you're I mean if it anytime you're really dirty literature like almost like, oh my God, I hate my coach to see that process of embracing a tear or two really appreciated and to know that it's like a wonderful things. So I appreciate that, you know, and you sharing that is well. I wanted to ask you I know that you could mention that your parents always it came here as refugees cuz he sleds

23:00 You know, I was here at the revolution has come to America. And what was it about choosing here? And did you guys know anybody? Who knows? Well, if I think it was more of my mother's decision to come to the United States, but I think she was over that cold climate and the lost Teddy and she wanted to come somewhere warmer. I think that was the reasoning behind the big move to the US in 2000. We actually didn't have anyone here my parents my sister and myself and I'm not going to lie. I was very rough. I was when I came to the US I was just crying because I asked my parents. Why would you move us across the world to a new country where we don't know anyone we left some of our relatives and

24:00 Friends in Denmark. Why would you do this to us? I was very upset and and I vocalize out to them. You know, what the young age years old because I realized what was happening. So I think it took us a while to address and I definitely want to stay moving to the US right it has its

24:27 Not a positive Autumn negative, but it took many years of struggle. I would say.

24:36 Up and down in the past 20 years really even say that you feel like you're American thing that I feel personally even regardless of US citizenship. It wasn't something I like I could claim for a very long time. And so I feel like some of the hardships leading to that was something that just made me identify more with onion and a Danish born citizen. The time to sit back and and then also maybe also the challenges to you talk a little bit about language, but would love to hear some more in 2000 was a year before 9/11 right? I mean no one can forget that so I think

25:33 Just for Muslim Americans in the United States. It was a very hostile time. But again, I was too young to know this at the time to understand has but as some years passed by and I got into my teenage years. I started to understand better of what the reality was and I think that what I had actually learned about my own story a couple years ago was that there was this registration list, right that was sent out for a certain Muslim countries after 9/11. So if you were from particular country's you have to register for the two cents would be vetted. You know that you didn't partake in 911 or didn't have any ties to it. And so Iran was on that list, and if you just come here from Iran to done work to hear and do you have to register for this list? I mean who wouldn't freak out and

26:33 I think my family was scared to register. I mean, right I think that that's a normal feeling to have the distrust right after we saw what happened with the aftermath and my father would tell me that we have this radio station is called 670-am. It's a Persian radio station in Los Angeles, and she was telling me that there was about 13 Iranians that had been detained or deported after registering for that list and for calling into the radio station asking for help, you know that their innocence that they have nothing to do with this and they just needed help and so

27:21 Learning about a couple years ago about I guess my family's trajectory in the US was very

27:30 It was a hard pill to swallow because I felt like where was I this whole time? How did I not know this but the biggest impact that had was becoming a permanent residence in the United States, right? So that definitely ended up delaying my family's ability to become residents of the United States and stick it come on up on a business is at the time in 2005. Remember being 17. All of my friends have gotten their licenses and I'm over here asking my dad. When am I going to get my license? Because I felt like the only one left out and you know, he had told me that we still have to wait to get your Social Security number and your residency and I just remember first hiding this from all my friends and no one you I mean, this is the most embarrassing thing ever. I have to keep this a secret.

28:30 Yeah, and I just remember telling my dad look if we if this situation doesn't get fixed if I can get a Social Security number or something to establish myself here by what reason do I have to live here. Maybe we should just move back to Denmark and put some miracle at end up working out when I turned 18. And so I was able to you know, then start college license and just pursue my education and you know what I had envisioned for myself, but I think everything leading up to that point was very

29:10 There's like resent right there was hurt and distressed distressed if it's so now with you know don't want to get too political but with the government with the police everything that we're seeing now, there's so much distrust and whiskey worse comes from right even when we see the different bands on specific countries, like, you know still on Iran right were targeted. Reasons, but that's been I think the biggest challenge in and just accepting yourself as an American and being right how to say. Yes. I'm an American without feeling like there's so many things working against you by saying

29:59 Yeah, that's so interesting. And also just you describing that you didn't realize all of this stuff right that you don't have a Social Security, you know, you can get one and all those things and what a shock that must have been in the sense of your parents would keep trying to protect you and give you the Snorks sense of normality and everything else being aware. And then that shocking yeah, I mean, it's just an in the journey to become an American in the high that just changes your life in the sense of being able to navigate like college and having a driving license in all of those things that people take for granted when they're born into a place, you know, or American nationality or whatever else. I wanted to ask activism, you know and make you one of you knows that 10 of what led you to become an activist.

30:58 I mean we work on right like we we organize we work on advocacy and policy for pro Refugee and immigrant legislation. And so obviously when we see what's been happening the past few years in the administration, it's been so anti-refugee. So anti immigrants to start working and start fighting because we know that no the United States to The Melting Pot this country was built on the backs of slaves. This country was founded by Native Americans. This country is really built by immigrants, right? And so I think for us to take the back seat and then let the administration destroy. This is not something that we were going to do. I firsthand have experiences not as a refugee, but as an immigrant and the daughter of refugee parents I've gone through

31:58 You know immigration Journeys and and becoming a citizen. I know how the Colt it is particularly for those that are seeking Asylum at a border for those are seeking Refuge from outside the country it is so difficult and to have so many different roadblocks being thrown at you because of a new Administration is probably the worst thing that can happen, especially if you're fearing for your life if you're trying to flee violence or persecution. The last thing I need is for someone to be like, hey, you need to stop and wait in your own country until we figure out our own mess and so being able to Advocate on behalf of the most vulnerable folks is definitely, you know, one of the most rewarding things that I do and sometimes these conversations or just having one-on-one conversations with those that are most impact.

32:58 It is what truly makes you realize and appreciate the work that that we do. I think the biggest thing is being able to build new Refugee and immigrant leaders in California and them being able to mobilize their own communities also being able to bring together a large coalition to push bring you a pro Refugee and immigrant legislation. So we're hoping to make you know, big splashes out in 2021 and being more affirmative and making sure that asylees Asylum Seekers and refugees are being provided all the opportunities particularly and Times of Kobe beef for us. The biggest thing. I think we'll be instead of playing defense for so long. We finally

33:58 Affirmative position to be able to set our plan in place and in looking to see what sort of action that we can take and making sure that we hold not only the administration accountable up at the local and state Administration also accountable and making sure that this place is going to be welcoming and accepting of refugees and immigrants.

34:24 Amazing and what are your hopes and dreams for the future book yourself before the work that you were doing you and say that I hope that were less divided nation that we come together with more love and peace less violence and more specifically to our work that we do I do we are working and praying for immigration reform So within the first days of this Administration hoping to get you no relief from you know, repealing the month in African bands are raising the refugee admissions numbers even getting rid of the roommate in Mexico policy. So many different policies that have created a separated families at and put roadblocks and in front of Asylum that we hope to repeal back within the first hundred days, so

35:24 Are my hopes and dreams and also a healthy country and World help me back to pre adamic time. So definitely can't leave out. When and what about parsonage you have any personal dreams and Ambitions as well. Love to one day be speaking at the UN. I've always had a thought or just working and in foreign policy, you know, I didn't realize y'all that's something that's always really intrigued my insurance. So hopefully one day, you know will grow and expand and get there. I'm so definitely trying to work towards gay. What and what would

36:15 Taking a left field. What would some of the things that would surprise people about you?

36:24 I think that what would such a really good question I would say if you don't know me off the bot. No one thinks I'm Iranian probably because the way that I I don't know if it's the way I look or cherry myself and more so that I was born and raised in Denmark. And so my mother still there I go back to Denmark very often. And so I think that for me is interesting cuz I feel like I can be a chameleon sometime and that works to my advantage because that's the one thing I can think of and that I from Spanish and danish maybe about 2.

37:11 New secret crazy Hobbies

37:18 I feel like I have no secret.

37:21 Can you transport a box and so that's a good thing. You said your mom's name in Denmark? And she was the one who wanted to move here and she was like that but like, you know that that's what happened. It's a great place to live. It just does get really cold and and dark during the winter time. So, you know, I think just us.

38:08 Having the in-between is also nice having the best of Two Worlds being able to go back and forth to self cleaning up last thing and it's no it's been such a pleasure talking to you and I feel like this conversation could just go on and on because it's a time flies when you're enjoying a conversation with someone. So I really appreciate this really well, It seemed really great chatting to you and he said thank you so much for taking time Island. Yeah and being here.