An Unexpected Start in Oklahoma
Fatima “Timmy” Evans was born into a prominent Iranian family, but her story began in an unexpected location: Oklahoma. While her pregnant mother was visiting family in the United States, Timmy made her early entrance into the world. Within a month or two, her mother returned with her to Iran.
Though she left the United States as an infant, her birthplace had a lasting impact on her family’s future.
“I was born in Oklahoma… And then we just went back to Iran,” Timmy recalls. “I love seeing it in my passport, you know, or wherever. My birth certificate, Oklahoma. I fucking love it.”
Because of her birth, her entire family eventually secured U.S. citizenship—a life-changing development before international travel became far more restricted.
A Childhood in Pre-Revolutionary Iran
Timmy grew up in Tehran during the 1970s. Her father, Dr. Mohammad Bahari, was a distinguished law professor and intellectual who served as Iran’s Minister of Justice leading up to the 1979 revolution.
Timmy remembers her childhood as full of warmth, elegance, and rapid modernization. At the time, Iran was a thriving, westernizing nation.
“Iran was flourishing and prospering… a beautiful country. Westernizing very rapidly,” she says. “Iranian women and… it was just lots of glamor and, you know, beautiful… Very, very chic and very stylish.”
Her father possessed a profound commitment to public service. “He’s a very high sense of duty towards his country,” Timmy reflects.
Escaping the 1979 Revolution
In 1979, political upheaval rocked Iran as Ayatollah Khomeini rose to power. Recognizing that instability was escalating after the Shah left the country, Dr. Bahari decided to send eight-year-old Timmy, her mother, and her siblings to safety in the South of France.
Her father initially refused to leave with them, driven by patriotism.
“The country’s not safe for you guys. I’m gonna send you all to the south of France,” her father told them. “I need to stay. I cannot leave because this is my country. I can’t just bail. I’m gonna do everything I can to save the country.”
What was meant to be a one-month trip became a permanent exile. Months later, a full-blown revolution erupted.
As a high-ranking official loyal to the former regime, Dr. Bahari was placed at the top of the new government’s execution list. “When the revolution happened, he was one of the top people on the list that they wanted to kill. They would literally get people, and they were executed,” Timmy shares.
With the help of a loyal house worker named Soleman, who led him across rooftops to safety, and a brave truck driver, Dr. Bahari escaped across the Pakistani border in disguise. After waiting a month in Pakistan, he received political refugee status and reunited with his family in France.
Through it all, her father passed down a core value that guided Timmy’s life. “He always told me to go after the truth,” she says. “He said, ‘Your wealth can be taken away from you. No one can take away your education.’”
Education and Finding Direction
Educated at top boarding schools in Switzerland, Timmy later moved to Washington, D.C., to attend George Washington University, where she studied art and art history. She grew up speaking four languages: Farsi, English, French, and Spanish.
Despite her education and lively social life, Timmy struggled to find a deeper purpose during her twenties.
“I was a rebel. I was like, I just wanna have fun, you know?” she admits. “But one thing that I really wanted… I always knew I wanted to be married and have kids.”
At age 32, while working as an office manager for a chiropractor in Virginia, Timmy discovered Scientology. The experience marked a turning point in her life.
“My life instantly changed,” she says. “All the answers, all the mistakes I was making, became clear to me.”
Serving Others and Building a Family
Energized by her personal transformation, Timmy joined the Church of Scientology staff to deliver counseling and programs to others. Soon after, she met her husband. They married within weeks of dating and went on to raise three children together while serving on staff.
For Timmy, balancing career, service, and family has been rewarding.
“It really is my most important job is being a mom,” she emphasizes. “But, uh, so with, also with the technology of Scientology, I’m able to wear different hats at different times, and it doesn’t take away from being a mom.”
Her experiences also deepened her awareness of global human rights issues, particularly the severe oppression faced by women in post-revolutionary Iran.
“The human rights violations over there on women are beyond anything you can ever, ever imagine,” Timmy notes. “She has no legal rights. She can’t do anything legally. You cannot divorce your husband if you don’t have a written permission.”
A Passion for Authentic Learning
While raising her children in Washington, D.C., and later Chicago, Timmy took charge of their education through homeschooling. After trying rigid, highly structured programs, she pivoted toward a more tailored, joyful approach.
“I really realized I wanted my kids to enjoy learning,” Timmy explains. “I wanted them to have a passion for learning, you know, not for it to be this, like, dictatorial thing.”
She focused on foundational math, independent study skills, and encouraging her children’s individual interests, allowing them to build confidence and self-motivation.
Life Purpose and Vision
Today, living in Chicago near the Church of Scientology, Timmy works as a consultant and registrar, helping individuals navigate life struggles, anxiety, and personal setbacks.
Her life’s ambition is grounded in empowerment, continuous learning, and a deep sense of responsibility toward others.
“I feel obligated to, or a sense of duty to help others. ’Cause if, if I have it, I should share it with other people, you know?”
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