Selective justice and accountability

I was standing in line at a bakery that is nestled in a grocery store owned by an Iranian businessman here in Orange County. The bakery itself is run by Mexicans. Two Iranian women were talking to each other. One said, "Did you see that killer who is now in New York?" After a brief pause, she added, "I wish they would arrest him."

"Yes. A terrorist!" the other replied.

I wondered whom they were talking about. So I asked, "Who do you mean, khanum?" She said, "Pezeshkian," with a little pause, continued, "the President of Iran."

"Do you know him?" she asked.

"No, not personally but I have heard of him," I responded pleasantly. 

Then I followed, "Well, madam, what about Netanyahu? Shouldn't he be arrested? He is, after all, a criminal by legal standards. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for him on charges of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza."

They became very upset. One of them asked me, "Where are you from?"

"From Malaysia." I lied because I wanted to avoid vitriol. I have had terrible encounters with pro-Shah supporters when I have introduced myself as Afghansitani.

It is quite interesting. Iranians whom I have encountered so far first ask where you are from. Then, once they know your cultural and identity-based background, they give a response tailored to that. 

Then, one of them said, "Palestinians are terrorists. Their lives don't matter."

"Well, madam, if by 'arrest' you mean 'accountability' and if we consider accountability a fundamental principle, shouldn't it be applied universally rather than selectively?" I asked.

"By that same logic of yours, if say Palestinian lives don't matter because they are on the 'other side' of the conflict (or because you don't like them), why should Iranian lives suddenly miraculously matter? At the very least, based on the same logic and standards that you yourself employ?" I added.

Both Iranian women left the bakery line, with uncontrollable anger radiating from their flushed, furious faces.