Reza Pahlavi, son of overthrown shah, is no advocate for a democratic Iran
Iran’s deposed monarchy as brutal and illegitimate as current theocracy
Washington Times, May 8, 2023 by Gen. Hugh Shelton
The recent wave of nationwide uprisings in Iran has reverberated around the world, signaling a clear desire for regime change. The Iranian people seek the end of the current medieval theocracy. And while the question of what comes next — in other words, a viable alternative — remains critical, a strange figure has suddenly surfaced in discussions about Iran‘s future: Reza Pahlavi, the son of the deposed and detested shah.
Mr. Pahlavi, who has been a socialite over the past four decades rather than a serious political figure, has been on a world tour of late, including a visit to Israel earlier this month. While he claims to be an advocate of democracy, his actions and statements suggest otherwise. His recent behavior stands in stark contrast to the aspirations of the Iranian people, who have taken to the streets in nationwide protests against the oppressive regime since September of last year.
In announcing his visit to Israel, Mr. Pahlavi sought to portray it as an opportunity to inform the world that “the Islamic Republic does not represent the Iranian people.” That is hardly news. Anyone genuinely interested in Iranian affairs would have reached this conclusion decades ago.
Social media has been awash with videos from across Iran, showing people from all walks of life chanting slogans like “death to the dictator.” These slogans have been propagated since 2014 through the network of Resistance Units linked to the main opposition organization Mojahedin-e Khalq, or MEK, which has been advocating a secular and democratic Iran since before the 1979 revolution. The MEK played a pivotal role in toppling the shah before establishing itself as the primary opposition to the fundamentalist mullahs’ regime.
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