Open Letter to Reza Pahlavi

Balatarin
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Open Letter to Reza Pahlavi
by David ET
25-Nov-2008
 

"The intent of this letter is not to remind you of history but to respectfully examine your place in it."

Your Excellency Prince Reza Pahlavi

30 years ago millions of Iranians jointly demanded an end to the rule of your father as the king and to the Pahlavi dynasty. After failing to stop the movement, in a statement your father stated that he heard the message of the people and proposed a constitutional monarchy with Dr. Shapour Bakhtiar as the prime minister, as opposed to the dictatorial monarchy that he had maintained since 1953 when with the help of United States Central Intelligence Agency the elected popular government of Prime Minister Mossadegh who was a supporter of a constitutional monarchy was toppled.

Regardless of the outcome of the 1979 revolution, it can not be denied that Iranians almost unanimously rejected the rule of your father and Pahlavi dynasty in any form. Obviously we all know that despite the promises of Ayatollah Khomeini for mullahs to go back to mosques, gradually they took full control of the affairs of Iran and formed their own theological dictatorship.

During the past 30 years you have stated that you support the separation of religion and state as well as a parliamentary democracy. You have further stated that the choice of the form of government lies with the Iranian people and you have also referenced to a future referendum to determine the future form of Iran's government. At the same time you have referred to the historical responsibility that has been bestowed upon you as the inheritor of the 2500 years of Iranian monarchies.

Your Excellency! Referendums are forms of official censuses to determine the will of the people, however history and the present is filled with the examples of people's will, being expressed in different forms and shapes which have resulted in change of governments and nation's destinies. Iranian people in millions already expressed and enforced their will 30 years ago which signified an end to the monarchy in Iran.

Just like your grandfather, whom without any referendums ended the monarchy of Ghajar dynasty, Iranians also ended the monarchy of Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. The return of Ghajar , Zand, Afshar and prior Iranian dynasties are not practical or no longer realistic and at this point such is the case with Pahlavi's dynasty and monarchy in general. Histories of many countries in the world are the best examples to prove that societies evolve and move on forward from the past and typically once a nation has shifted from a monarchy to other forms of government, the history has not reversed. .

Your Excellency, it is also a historical fact that your grandfather and father made many contributions to the modernization of Iran and its progress from the 1900 to the 20th century, During the same time period many of the similar improvements were experienced in many oil and non-oil producing developing countries such as Turkey, India, United Arab Emirates etc. At the same time it is also a recorded fact that during your father's rule the freedom of expression, political opinions and parties were strongly subdued by Iran's Information and intelligence Agency (SAVAK) . A simple Google search of independent human rights organizations such as Amnesty International shows many recorded documents of political prisoners, tortures and executions during that era.

However the intent of this letter is not to remind you of history but to respectfully examine your place in it.

Your Excellency! except minimal references to the shortcomings of the past, after 30 years you still have not officially, clearly and frankly acknowledged the flaws of your father's regime in the matters of human rights, corruptions, lack of freedom of expression and the political prisoners. In the western democracies it does not take long before politicians publicly acknowledge their mistakes or of those who preceded them.

We have heard from few who claim that Iranians need a Shah in order to remain united as a nation which is made of various regions, religions, languages and dialects. During your father's era, not yet tested, such idea may have had some followers but the experiences of the past 30 years have shown that Iranians care about their country Iran first and foremost and they do not need a Shah or Imam to maintain a nationalistic feeling toward their country. During Iran-Iraq war many Iranians from all provinces rushed to defend the integrity of their nation regardless of their political and religious beliefs and backgrounds. Iranians are united in their commitment to one nation just as they have jointly voiced their opposition to any foreign interventions and wars regardless of the underlying causes.

Your Excellency! until in an official statement to all Iranians you acknowledge the mistake of your father and until you officially resign from your potential claim to a throne, that is held in a museum, you will only be known, addressed and heard as the son a monarch who was once toppled by the majority of Iranians and in some people's views a prince who wishes to regain the throne or power.

In fact, your insistence in maintaining your title as the "potential" future Shah of Iran has been a divisive factor among some of the Iranians.

I also understand that there are those among the circle of your advisors and family who may oppose such suggestion but then the true leaders take bold initiatives and the rest including those surrounding them, if well intentioned, tend to follow. It is worth mentioning that it was the same type of advise that lead to the loss of trust of Iranian in their Shah and the rest is now history.

Today more than ever our nation is in need of unity and you can play an important historical role in this path if you chose to! If you wish to be a true positive force in the path of this unity, I suggest that you rise to the occasion. Thereafter, it is your choice to remain as a prince (in title but not in claim) or to be a leader, a politician, a human rights advocate, a businessman ....or simply a citizen. That choice will remain to be yours as it should be of any Iranian citizen. No matter what, by removing this cloud of division, you will be doing your country the most service that you can ever imagine and no matter what lies in your future you will be respected in the history of Iran and the world for such courageous and selfless act .

Your Excellency, great men are known by being leaders in action and this is how you can rise to an important, memorable historical occasion and role . It is then that you too - free of any guilt by associations- - acknowledge in action and not only in words that no one is above another and you too confirm that all Iranians are truly equal regardless of blood, religion, title, gender, relations, race, culture and language .

The message that your father eventually heard, was actually being voiced for a very long time, at least for 26 years since Dr. Mossadegh, but it was heard too late. I only hope that you learn from that mistake and that you hear it sooner than later. 30 years have already passed.

I respectfully ask you to free yourself of your royal title and any potential claims to it and to come together with all Iranians in a NATIONAL RECONCILIATION (Hambastgi va Ashteye Melli) towards a future free and democratic secular Iran.

Iranians had already spoken and it is your turn.

Balatarin
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more from David ET
 
Q

Wow 2 "open letters" to RP in one day?

by Q on Tue Nov 25, 2008 06:40 PM PST

Do we even know if he reads this site? or any site?


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Reza Pahlavid Has Said Before He Wants to Be "Shah of Iranians"

by Ali Sefati (not verified) on Tue Nov 25, 2008 06:21 PM PST

I am sure he has changed his position by now, or at least he claims so. But he has said it many time before that he wanted to be Shah of Iranians and this article points out some good points. He, his father, his grandfather, all have roots of monarchy and sense that they know more than people so they know whats right for the people.

Iranian people are over that attitude. They are over Shah and Velayate Faghih and all that none sense.


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farrokhzad

my third point: regarding appologizing

by farrokhzad on Tue Nov 25, 2008 06:13 PM PST

You stress the importance of RP appologizing for his father's mistakes.  I used to think that too. 

True, there were many mistakes. But, I've come to appreciate just how complex Iran's problems were, how it was unfair of me to expect Shah, as one man,  to be perfect in every way, and how us, as people of Iran, are not involved in helping run our country. We have the expectations of a citizen of a world power, and make the contributions of a citizen of a backward country. A typical leader of a country like Iran is hanging by athread at any given moment, with his own countrymen as his fiercest critics.  situations move from crisis to crisis, and the people are just unforgiving. 

Appologizing for the Mosaddegh tragedy is not straightforward.  We romanticize Mosaddegh a great deal as if he were the messiah and our democracy would've been perfect had he not been overthrown. Our democracy was weak since its inception in 1906.  It could not sustain itself.  Unlike every other democracy, we had no foreign support.  There was alot of money and oil involved- lots and lots of it, and first class thieves with insurmountable muscle determined to take it.  There was tremendous pressure. I believe shah saw the situation as an existential threat.  I still believe Shah and mosaddegh could've handled it better if they could've formed a united national front to face the external forces, but that's how history went.

Let me ask you something David: Do you think the Shah was a patriot who did his best? Or, do you see the late Shah as a traitor to his country, someone who plotted with foreigners and stole the people's money?  


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Prince C. Reza Pahlavi

by T.h.e.P.o.p.e. (not verified) on Tue Nov 25, 2008 05:57 PM PST

Your Excellency, I respectfully ask you to preserve and hold on to your Royal title and every claim to it in order to keep alive this important part of our history, heritage and culture until a NATIONAL RECONCILIATION (Hambastegieh Melli va Ashtee baa farhang-e Aariyaayee/shahanshahi) towards a future free and constitutional (democratic) monarchy.

p.s. "30 years ago millions of Iranians jointly demanded an end to the rule of your father as the king...."!!!!
David jaan, "millions"!!!! Sometimes I seriously think you really are an Extra Terrestrial (David ET)! lol :o)
-just kidding, no hard feelings.

T.h.e.P.o.p.e. (shall rise again)


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farrokhzad

My second point: the decision is not his alone

by farrokhzad on Tue Nov 25, 2008 05:55 PM PST

With all due respect, he is MY king and many like me.  It's not a personal decision for him alone.  I wouldn't want him to abandon my hopes. 

I understand you don't like monarchy as a 21st century solution.  I used to think that too.  But, at some point, you must respect others who sincerely see it as the most viable solution for our country.  Are we not allowed to believe that? Are we criminals or traitors in your eyes? 


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farrokhzad

There is a flaw in your logic, David

by farrokhzad on Tue Nov 25, 2008 05:51 PM PST

You say: 

1- RP is in a unique position to unite the country.

2- He should rise to the occasion and unite the country by renouncing his claim to the throne.

3- He is in that unique position because he is the heir to the throne, the very thing you urge him to throw away.

So, if he is in a unique position to unite the country, why should he, or we, give up that position? What happens the next time the country needs uniting?  That is the exact point of having a soverign.

He can unite the country in ways. 


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Majid

Can someone explain this to me PLEASE?

by Majid on Tue Nov 25, 2008 05:32 PM PST

What is the difference between a "saltanat talab" and a "Pahlavi talab" ?

I mean this is the question........

 ALL you "saltanat talab"s out there , if someone (a non- Pahlavi person) can convince everyone that monarchy is the BEST system for our motherland and has the guts to step forward and fight for his idea to turn Iran back to a monarchy, are you guys going to be of support or you just want a "Pahlavi" for that position?

 


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default

Mr David, you are your own Guliath

by Shahryar Pars (not verified) on Tue Nov 25, 2008 04:48 PM PST

How wrong can you be?
Obviously endlessly.
Iranians unanimously, DID NOT reject monarchy, you are not only wrong, you are simply a liar.
Even the boastful ignorant reactionary Ayatollah Khomeini, was more honest than you, he claimed to have the support of 98%.
and 98% is far from unanimously.
You perhaps were among the bewildered majority who committed the crime of revolution, or perhaps still are nourished by it's poisoning fruits, but the then 98% is now in best estimations not more than 20%.
And still who cares, obviously the 98% were WRONG, we witness it in every corner of our country, and the then 2% were RIGHT. And above all, The greatest of all, Dr Bakhtiar were right, but not even him rejected monarchy, so, could you just send an open letter to yourself, and ask for knowledge, clarifications and freedom from your inherent complexes which so badly have chained you to the rocks of hateredd, arrogance and ignorance.


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sbglobe

Case Closed

by sbglobe on Tue Nov 25, 2008 04:30 PM PST

Wow! I now lost of "complex/oghdeh" with the word "Your Excellency" - I mean this. Thanks..... :-)

I could not agree with you more - the subject is more important than choice of words.


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David ET

Dear sbglobe

by David ET on Tue Nov 25, 2008 04:22 PM PST

Good to see we agree...

I also personally always struggle with the word Excellency etc. but it is common when an OFFICIAL letter is written , depending on the position of the person; words such as your honor, your Excellency etc is used but the words are used more formal in nature than in legal terms. Reza Pahlavi is the son and grandson of two Kings and therefore in definition a Prince even if he is in exile or not in power. In the letter I also stated: ....."thereafter, it is your choice to remain as a prince (in title but not in claim) or ..."

I hope this explains it.. regardless I am sure we agree that subject is more important than my choice of words :-)


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David ET

Dear Dariush :-)

by David ET on Tue Nov 25, 2008 04:01 PM PST

Yes We THE PEOPLE CAN

That is also the choice of Reza Pahlavi to join the people or chose to continue to consider himself above them as a Royal.

It is the same choice that every opposition leader will have to make between what is best for IRAN and IRANIANS TODAY or the title, ideology, party, relationships etc (as they have in the past 30 years!)

Solutions for Iran  

 


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sbglobe

What is it that you really want Darius

by sbglobe on Tue Nov 25, 2008 04:00 PM PST

I usually do not read any of your post since from their subject lines (thank you for being clear on those by the way), I get the impression that you live in the past – nostalgic is one thing but obsession with the past and Pahlavie’ era is something else. Maybe I never took the time but what do you (supporter of Pahlavies) really want? Do you really think it will be a good thing if Reza Pahlavie goes back to Iran and get what he may think is rightfully his (does he really want that?). BETRAYAL is sure too strong of the word for wanting to go forward and let go of the past


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sbglobe

Excellent Suggestion

by sbglobe on Tue Nov 25, 2008 03:43 PM PST

Dear David - what a nice letter and what a GREAT suggestion.... but there is but....... You sure confused me by calling him "Your Excellency!".  I sure understand if you wanted to keep this letter formal and do not call him "Reza jan" but calling him "Your Excellency" seems to be a bit of oxymoron with your suggestion. Maybe Mr. Pahlavie would have done the job as well.

 


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Darius Kadivar

When it Comes to BETRAYAL Iranians ARE KING ! ...

by Darius Kadivar on Tue Nov 25, 2008 03:33 PM PST

Khob David Agha,

Yes We Can Huh ? ;0(

It was not Alexander the Great who defeated Persian King Darius Codoman III but the Persian King's Own Generals who stabbed him in the Back !


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