Ex-Palestine Supporter Slams 'Insane' Movement for 'Cherry-Picking' Oppressors
An Iranian-born Canadian who once supported the pro-Palestine movement says she left the cause due to what she perceives as hypocrisy and a focus on ideology over human rights.
Parishad Kavyani, who was born in Iran and moved to Canada at age 14, has spoken out against the pro-Palestine, anti-Israel movement she previously supported for over two years. Kavyani told Fox News Digital that the movement has been undermined human rights by focusing on specific oppressors while ignoring others, calling it "insane."
Kavyani stated that she experienced more homophobia, racism, and sexism from leftists and those within the pro-Palestine movement than she did in Iran. She also highlighted a perceived inconsistency in the movement's advocacy for liberation and women's rights, noting a silence or even support for the oppression of Iranian women when they seek freedom, such as the right to choose their attire.
Raised in Iran, Kavyani described being exposed to extensive government propaganda about the Palestinian cause. She recalled being told daily that Palestinians were oppressed and needed help, a narrative that contrasted sharply with the visible poverty and lack of basic services, like clean water and access to hospitals, within Iran. This led her to question why the government prioritized funding external causes over its own citizens' needs.
The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, served as a significant turning point for Kavyani. She expressed her opposition to violence against civilians, regardless of their nationality or political beliefs, and condemned the taking of hostages, rape, and torture. Kavyani criticized the "ideology-driven" nature of the discourse she observed online and in real life, arguing against creating a hierarchy of victims.
"After that happened, I started separating myself... because I was like, this is not the group that I want to associate myself with because I don't think a lot of the people within that movement are there for the human rights aspect of it," Kavyani said. She believes that some supporters within the movement are not genuinely focused on human rights but rather on an ideology that leads them to "cherry-pick between oppressors."