Columbus Business Owner Who Fled Iran Fears for Family Amid Conflict

Sherry Bayegan, co-owner of Charmy's Persian Grocery, expresses mixed emotions over U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 5:39am

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Sherry Bayegan, a Columbus business owner who co-owns Charmy's Market, a Persian grocery store, fled Iran nearly 13 years ago due to persecution for her sexuality. While she is happy to be living in the U.S., she is deeply concerned for the safety of her loved ones still in Iran following the recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes against the country.

Why it matters

The conflict between the U.S. and Iran has created a complicated emotional situation for Bayegan, who feels torn between her two homes. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, she had to flee Iran due to the country's strict anti-gay laws, but she still cares deeply for her birth country and the people she left behind.

The details

Bayegan expressed sadness and mixed feelings about the military strikes, saying she is "happy that I'm gone, yes, but also very sad, concerned, and confused about the war." Her biggest concern is for the safety of her cousins, close friends, and her wife's entire family who still live in Iran. Bayegan hopes to one day visit Iran again, but worries about the long-term impact the conflict will have on the country and her loved ones.

  • Bayegan fled Iran nearly 13 years ago.
  • The U.S. and Israel recently launched "major combat operations" against Iran.

The players

Sherry Bayegan

The co-owner of Charmy's Market, a Persian grocery store in Columbus, Ohio. Bayegan fled Iran nearly 13 years ago due to persecution for her sexuality.

Rezi

Bayegan's wife and co-owner of Charmy's Market.

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What they’re saying

“I'm sad, but I also feel a lot of mixed feelings. I am happy that I'm gone, yes, but also very sad, concerned, and confused about the war.”

— Sherry Bayegan, Co-owner, Charmy's Market

“I feel as a person who's been living here for almost 13 years, do I want the country I'm living in to attack the country I came from? Of course not.”

— Sherry Bayegan, Co-owner, Charmy's Market

The takeaway

Bayegan's story highlights the complex emotional toll that geopolitical conflicts can have on immigrants and refugees, who often find themselves caught between their new homes and the countries they were forced to flee. Her experience underscores the need for empathy and understanding towards those navigating such difficult situations.