Iranian immigrant in Louisville reflects on freedom amid Iran war

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A man who grew up in rural Iran said the freedoms he found in America once felt impossible — even something as simple as helping fund a park bench.

Naeim Torkian moved to the Louisville area about 15 years ago after his employer sponsored him. Today, he is an American citizen, but his journey began in a small town about 300 miles from Tehran, a place he said is known for raising horses. 

He came to the United States chasing what he calls the American dream, particularly the freedom to practice his religion. Torkian is a member of the Bahá’í faith, a minority religion that he said could have cost him his life in Iran.

"Over there, I’m minority. Not here," he said. "I’m enjoying the freedom. And I’m glad that I’m here."

That freedom inspired him and a group of friends to raise money for a park bench near the entrance to the Big Four Bridge in Jeffersonville. It’s a small gesture, but one he said would have been impossible in his homeland.

"You kind of donate that to the city… just have something good for good causes," he said. 

Torkian says openly practicing his faith — or even speaking publicly — could have led to serious consequences in Iran. He believes both he and a reporter would have faced danger if the same conversation took place there.

"To me, because no one knows me, I will disappear forever, it happens to lots of people," he said, describing what he believes is zero tolerance for opposition voices.

Using Google Maps, Torkian pointed out the street where he grew up. Some of his family and friends still live there, and he said several have recently been detained by the government. He now tries to speak on their behalf.

"I try to be their voice… they caught them a couple months ago and we don’t have any type of information. We don’t know where they are or what they are doing," he said.

Communication with his parents has also become increasingly difficult. Internet access is nearly nonexistent, and phone calls are rare and brief.

"Right now… the way I’m communicating with them is through the landline that they could call maybe every other week," he said. "The calls that I’m getting is about maybe one or two minutes — really limited, really bad quality."

Despite the challenges, Torkian said he has no plans to move back to Iran. But he would consider returning someday to help rebuild if conditions change.

He said opportunities in the United States — education, travel and economic freedom — were never available to him before.

"I would never get a chance to go to university because of my religion. I would never get a chance to buy a car, buy a house, visit 25 countries," he said. "The passport I used to have is not going to be as powerful as the U.S. passport that I have now. I have lots that I gained here."

Torkian believes the people of Iran and the country’s leadership are not the same.

"They say Islamic Republic versus people of Iran. These are two different groups. One is taken hostage by the other," he said.

And he worries that without change, the country could become even more isolated. Still, he said he remains grateful for the life he has built in the United States — and for the freedom to speak openly.