Letters

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Thursday
April 19, 2001

Nothing to hide

In reply to "Kerman01":

Ever since I moved back to the U.S., iranian.com has been a kind of surrogate mother to me. By connecting me instantly to so many compatriots, this magazine gave me a voice. So I started writing about everything that somehow or other moved me.

I thought long and hard about putting my name to the things I wrote because we Iranians have a chornic fear of offending others or of being hunted by some secret service. But I decided not to write anonymously because I believe this kind of cautiousness is a national malaise brought upon by years of dictatorial rule -- and I was inspired by the likes of Akbar Gangi.

I wrote a few anti-molla letters here and there mostly in defense of the jailed journalists. There were a few debates and heated discussions with various other readers of this forum. But none of these discussions ever overstepped any personal boundries. I never attacked anyone personally and always made sure my name followed anything I submitted.

I did not recieve any harrassment (other than a few Googoosh die-hards not liking what I said about her) until I started voicing my doubts about Reza Pahlavi and defending the editor of this magazine's right to tell a bad joke about whomever he pleases. Out came the old SAVAKIs and/or their obedient offsprings.

I recieved threats of exposing my personal life from royalists -- avid followers of Reza Pahlavi. I was told that they would provide witnesses and proof that I was a pot-smoking whore, and a lesbian, who took money and favors from SAVAK.

I wrote back that I had nothing to hide and was unashamed of anything they may say about me. I told them that I was glad that we lived in a country where expressing doubts about a "potential" leader does not translate into immediate torture and arrest.

Then I realized why, despite the fact that all my wealth was confiscated by the mollas, I hated the Pahlavis even more. I believe there are many who feel like me. I hold the Pahlavi regime entirey responsible for the culture of corruption and hypocrasy that led to the revolution.

If I am corrupt as those people claim I am, I learned it at the church of Ashraf Palavi. I never ever threatened anybody with exposing them. One could write several books about the vulgar arrogant behavior of the members of that clan and the courtiers that fed off of them like bees sucking clean the wealth of an entire nation.

Now these people have discovered the internet and have worked themselves into a frenzy about their new found toy and its power to reach people.

At the begining, after the revoulution they layed low ashamed of the unclean-by-any- standard-wealth that they had amassed. But now after 20 years and a failed attempt at reform by Khatami, they have sprouted like weeds -- puffed up by a couple of satellite tansmissions and press confrences where their new Pahlavi can find a reason to wear suits and ties again. In other words, as we say in Farsi: "dor vardaashtan". And they have the arrogance to think that they can intimidate me here -- on free soil!

The person who wrote the threatening letter never answered back to put his/her name to his/her claims. But I decided to go ahead and write this response so that they may know that their old SAVAKI tactics do not work here. Especially since I do not intend to run for office.

This incident is clear proof to me that the people sorrounding Reza Pahlavi and his Meehan Foundation are not at all "new" -- they are all somehow connected to the old court.

Who, I ask is funding Reza Pahlavi's come back? If he is truly democratic why does he not divulge that? Everyone who knows this family knows that there is no way that Pahlavi, who does not even like paying his own dinner bills, is funding his own comeback.

Please, all you Shahi friends out there, anwer the questions I raised before you engage in any argument.

Setareh Sabety

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