Here’s a fact: a number of PAAIA leaders share close relationships with Iranian political figures in the U.S. PAAIA members and the Iranian-American community at large deserve to know about these close relations because it may influence whether they decide to join or support the organization. We also deserve to know because it affects whether we trust PAAIA to be the community’s voice in politics.
For instance, did you know that PAAIA Board Member Nazie Eftekhari enjoys a close and personal relationship with Reza Pahlavi Take the following:
– From the Guardian: “Nazie Eftekhari, who works in Reza Pahlavi’s office in Washington and is a close family friend.”
– Eftekhari’s $25,000 donation to the “Prince Alireza Pahlavi Foundation”.
– Eftekhari toast and praising of Farah Pahlavi.
Relationships between PAAIA Board Members and controversial Iranian dissidents is problematic to say the least. It completely contradicts PAAIA’s “no involvement in foreign policy stance”. It also creates a transparency problem – PAAIA leaders can represent us with impunity and while failing to inform us of important political ties. Indeed, no other prominent Iranian-American organization has one board member or leader who works for an Iranian political opponent, especially one so controversial as Reza Pahlavi.
These relationships should be transparent so that we as a community can determine whether to trust PAAIA.
