Iranians in the Netherlands are outraged as they watch events unfold in their home country. They are afraid for their families back home. For days they have sung, chanted and yelled “Where’s my vote?” outside the Iranian embassy in the Hague.

Many of the protestors are Iranian students with family in Iran, but some have lived in the Netherlands for longer. RNW correspondent Klaas den Tek spoke with three of the protestors, who were at turns emotional, angry, optimistic and fearful.

Listen to Klaas den Tek's report from the protests in The Hague:

Fighting
One woman says she is sure 70 percent of the votes were for reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi. She says Mr Mousavi gave the people of Iran hope that one day democracy would find Iran. It is a hope she has fostered since witnessing the Iranian Revolution of 1979.

“Thirty years ago I was one of them who fight for human rights and fight for the freedom in Iran. I was 16 years old. Right now I am standing here by my daughter, who is 20 years old, and we fight together. A few years ago it was impossible for me, but right now I am sure we will get there.”

Optimistic
The protestors in The Hague declined to be named for fear of endangering their family in Iran. It has been difficult for them to reach their family, as the Iranian regime has shut down cell phone communication and blocked important networking websites.

One man said the whole system in Iran needs to change, and he thinks it will. 

“Some of [my family members] have been killed through this regime, but the rest they are living in Iran. Most of them are under pressure and in a bad condition. But I am very optimistic that this time the people will win.”

Bare hands
Not everyone shared his sentiment. Another man, whose parents and sister live in Mr Mousavi’s home province of Azerbaijan, says he hasn’t tried to reach his family. He says it’s too dangerous and in Iran, you never know what might happen. He fears for their safety and does not think the protests in Iran will improve their situation.

“The Iranian people don’t really have the potential to change the government. Everything is with the government: power, guns, everything. People don’t  have anything, they are just fighting with bare hands.

“This kind of demonstration happened ten years ago. They came to streets and began to say these kind of things, but nothing happens.”