Nationwide protests in Iran are putting pressure on the regime in Tehran. Ex-Empress Farah Pahlavi suffers from exile in Paris with the demonstrating women and hopes that the mullahs will be overthrown. The Shah’s son Reza also expects an upheaval to be imminent.
In view of the protests in Iran, the former Persian Empress Farah Pahlavi has called on the West to help the Iranians. “The West can help them by telling all the horrors that are happening in Iran under this regime,” the 83-year-old told i24News in Paris. “I hope that this regime will be overthrown.” The ex-Empress said that Iranian women had fought for their freedoms and their place in society from the very beginning. “They were really brave and it’s the first time we see such a big movement in Iran and in all cities of Iran.”
The wife of the ousted Persian Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in ??1979 encouraged the women in her country. “I have a special message for the women. I am proud of them, of my compatriots, my sisters, my children and my daughters. Despite the oppression, they are fighting and have the courage to fight back against this regime.” When asked about a possible future role for her son Reza Pahlavi, who lives in the United States, in Iran, she said that after a coup, the Iranians would have to determine their own fate. “My son wants democracy in Iran, territorial integrity, separation of religion and power, and women’s freedom.”
Reza Pahlavi said he sees signs of upheaval in Iran. “In my opinion, it is the first revolution for women, by women,” said the Shah’s son, who lives in the United States. There is a “high probability” that the Islamic government in Tehran will not be in office much longer, and the West must prepare for this. Respected by much of the Iranian exile community, Pahlavi stressed that he did not want the monarchy to return to Iran after the fall of the Islamic Republic. Instead, Pahlavi spoke out in favor of a constituent assembly that should give Iran a new basic law. “There can be no real democratic order without a clear definition and separation of church and state,” said Pahlavi.
In dealing with the headscarf for women, Pahlavi spoke out in favor of freedom of choice. “Women can choose to wear a headscarf or not.” But that should be a “free decision” and not “forced on for ideological or religious reasons”.
The trigger for the eleven-day protests in Iran against the Islamic system of rule and the systematic discrimination against women is the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. She was arrested by the Morality Police for violating the strict Islamic dress code and died on September 16 under unclear circumstances. The demonstrators speak of police violence, which the authorities firmly reject.
