Dr. Seyed Ali Shayegan (1902-1981), professor of law, political advisor to Dr. Mossadegh and a member of his cabinet, was a distinguished man of letters who taught at Tehran University. After the infamous coup, he was arrested alongside with Dr. Mossadegh and other members of the National Front. He was initially sentenced to life imprisonment and then to ten years. He spent three years in prison. He later went to self-exile in the U.S. and lived in New Jersey with his family until the 1979 Revolution, when he returned to Iran. He passed away two years later in N.J. His remains were flown to Iran where he was buried in the family cemetery. Years later, Mrs. Badri Sheybani Shayegan, his companion in life and in struggle was buried next to him.
Ahmad Shayegan, his eldest son, has published his memoirs (in Persian) titled, “The Political Life, Writings and Speeches of Seyed Ali Shayegan,” Agah Publishers, 2005, Tehran.
In dedication to Ahmad and all the men, like his father, who stood by the man who sought nothing except dignity and prosperity for his nation, I took a few pages from the book and translated them for this occasion.
28th Mordad
Like every morning, I got up early to go see Dr. Mossadegh at his house [on Kakh Street] from Emam Zadeh Ghasem in Shemiran. Since the hammam—our bath in the house in the city—was more convenient and better equipped, I took my wife and our new baby who had been born a few weeks earlier to wash up and from there I went to Dr. Mossadegh’s house.
The night before, I had prepared the draft for a referendum bill for the provisional government to present to Dr. M. for approval. While I was waiting to see him, Mr. Mohammad Hossein Qashqayee entered the reception area; he had just come out of Dr. M.’s room. I asked him what news he had. He said that these [Americans] were determined to bring Dr. M. down at any cost. I told him, have you said this to the Dr.? He said, yes. I asked, did he [Dr. M.] say anything in response. He said, no.
Later on, Mr. Nasser Khan Qashqayee would tell me that they [the leaders of the Qashqayee tribe] had sent a message to Dr. M. that if he allowed them, they would be ready to send in enough people to help the government in Tehran, but that he had not given them permission.
The morning before, when I had gone to the Dr.’s house; near the door, two or three members of the Tudeh Party were waiting for him; when I got out of the car, they came towards me. I knew one of them. He was a high school teacher, a freedom lover and a patriotic man. They said, the opposition is getting ready to stage a coup. Please tell the Dr. that if he gives us arms we will form a “national guard” and obey the government’s orders. I promised them to relay the message to Dr. M., which I did. The Dr.’s answer was again negative.
Little by little, members of the National Front (NF) came. Nariman, Hasibi, Dr. Fatemi, Dr. Sanjabi, Razavi, Zirak-zadeh, Dr. Sadiqi, Moazami, the brother of Dr. Moazami who was the Minister of Post and Telegraph. From outside, you could hear lots of commotion. The news broke that a bunch of ruffians were approaching Dr. Mossadegh’s house. Slowly the clamor increased. Another piece of news was that some individuals were heading to capture Tehran’s radio station.
We thought that both the army and Shahrbani (the city security office) were in the hands of the government. Since the head of Shahrbani was Dr. Mossadegh’s nephew and both the head of the army and the head of dejban were under his control and the fact that people supported Dr. M. and the NF with all their heart and without hesitation, we felt there was no reason for worry. But the facts on the ground were different since the head of the army was not a fighter and later suspicion grew around him. But it is highly unlikely that he, whom Dr. M. had trusted with a position that was always held by one of the Shah’s cronies, would betray him and work hand in hand with the enemy of Iran’s freedom and independence. Subsequently, by accepting this position, he was held in jail and spent three years of his life incarcerated with other freedom seekers.
As usual Dr. M. was in bed and members of the NF would come and go to and from his room and talk to him. Everyone was worried and frightened of what could happen. Dr. Sanjabi told us that he had mentioned to Dr. M. that he could bring enforcement from the Sanjabi tribe but that the latter had refused. Matters were growing worse by the hour and the noise was getting louder. Around 3 in the afternoon, lunch was served, but no one cared about food. After lunch, not many people stayed around including Dr. Sanjabi. It was reported to Dr. Fatemi’s family that he had been killed, so he went to his house to let his wife know that he was ok. After that, we did not see him [Fatemi] anymore. The other members of the NF gathered around Dr. M.’s room. Dr. M. was sitting on his bed, watching from his window. The sound of tanks and gunfire could be heard.
Dr. M. who knew his life was constantly under threat, had ordered the construction of a wall around the terrace in front of his room. On this summer terrace, the Dr. would sit in the evenings and meet with members of his cabinet and other NF people. The walls were protective in case someone fired a shot; only gunfire from the air would be dangerous.
All the time, people would come to the house and relay the most horrible news. One was that the guard to the (iron) door of Dr. M.’s house had been killed.
Dr. M.’s room was not very safe and quite small; it was located on the second floor of the house. This 3x4 room had windows on all four sides. On one corner was his bed. The door to the wall of his bed had a window towards the north. In front of the bed, there was a window measuring one meter which opened fully to the terrace, and to the left of the bed there was another door that opened to another room.
In this small and unsafe room, we were standing or sitting, all of us silent in his honor, but terrified at the same time. Whenever a door opened and someone would come in, our hearts beat faster. One of the visitors who came in was Mr. Daftari (the head of Shahrbani) who, after giving a military salute to Dr. M., started crying. Dr. M. was his uncle. But Daftari was the Shah’s crony and was the man in charge of destroying us. Perhaps his tears were not illogical since on the one hand, he was Dr. M.’s close relative (his brother’s son) and on the other hand, he had to obey orders by way of his position but also because of future promised positions and knowing that the Shah’s coup was in the making, and so he had decided to relent to the Shah, which made his cries those of a weak man who now felt exposed.
His cry, which at that moment meant the fall of Dr. M., had made everything clear for us.
In these trying moments, everyone was silent. While the news and the discussions seemed to reflect our doomed future, Mr. Nariman got up and took his revolver from his pocket. He then turned towards Dr. M. and said, isn’t better to get rid of ourselves before the enemy gets to us? I propose that we commit suicide. Dr. M. became agitated and told some of those in the room to take the revolver from his hand and shouted at him to sit down and told one of us to take the revolver and lock it in a drawer.
Long hours passed by slowly and with each passing hour, it seemed, our lives were in more danger and our arrest became imminent. But Dr. M. was still sitting in the same manner. Every once in a while, someone would propose to him to move to another room or leave the house, a house that eventually would be the target of destruction and fire so that he would not be in danger, but he would not listen. He then turned to us and said that he had decided to stay in this very house and die there. “I don’t expect any of you to stay and I am asking you to go to your homes,” he said. It was obvious that no one agreed to this. That is no one was ok with him staying in the room or leaving him there alone or getting separated from him.
In this very instance, a shot was fired from the direction of the wall from above the terrace, breaking the southern side of the windows of the room. This gunshot, if it had gone through the window, would have certainly hit Dr. M. We all became terrified and told Dr. M. that it was now time to move to the adjacent room. With our persistence and giving up to our demand, Dr. M. finally accepted to leave. Thus, we all left for the next rooms and finally left the house for the neighbor’s and went to the house next door by way of the rooftop. It was now getting dark; some jumped down from the roof and some held on to branches of trees that had been planted there, coming down slowly. We helped the Dr. to come down without harm but Mohandes Zirak-Zadeh broke his leg while jumping down.
In the neighbor’s house, the only person present was the caretaker. The owner and his family had gone to Shemiran for the summer season. The first thing that crossed our mind was whether we could stay in that house or not. We told the caretaker to call the owner and ask him if it was OK. Of course the answer was yes in the most respectful way.
Unfortunately the house was not ready for any occupants. There were no rugs or furniture and no food, not even for one meal. The basement of the house seemed safe so we all went there and sat on the cold floor without any covered rugs. We were all silent so as not to make any noise to be heard. Some wanted to call their families but it was not suitable.
It was a difficult night since everyone was hungry and there was nothing there to eat except a few pieces of bread. Some of our friends slept on a kelim which was laid on the floor and fell asleep from sheer fatigue. Gunfire could be heard. Then morning came and after some discussion, a few people left. I along with Dr. Sadiqi and Mohandes Moazami stayed with Dr. M. around … In the morning, with the streets empty, we went to the house of Mohandes Moazami’s mother which was nearby. There was much discussion on what to do next. Dr. Mossadegh believed that we should give ourselves up immediately and so we contacted Mr. Sharif Emami by telephone. It was around 7 pm that he called us and agreed to meet with us if necessary.
But a few moments later Dr. M. told us that we should not wait any longer and we should give ourselves up, so we decided to call the Shahrbani. One of the colleagues called the Shahrbani and we told them of our whereabouts.
It was at this moment that a few military servicemen who were looking around the neighborhood entered our house. They first looked into the rooms on the first floor and then they went upstairs to the second floor. Suddenly, they saw Dr. M and without saying anything, they notified the Shahrbani; Dr. M. told them that we were ready to surrender to the authorities on condition that they provide our safe departure.
At this time, a car appeared in front of the house and some individuals, whom we did not recognize, entered the house. Since we were all ready to leave anyway, they took us to the military headquarters. They immediately informed General Zahedi. A few military vehicles full of armed soldiers took us the Officers’ Club at which time we saw Zahedi waiting there on the steps; he shook Dr. M’s hands and then they incarcerated us right there.
A few hours later, in the middle of the night, they took Dr. Sadiqi and I to Shahrbani. In the morning, Dr. M. was informed and sent a message to Mr. Zahedi to the effect that, unless he let us come back to the Officers’ Club, he would start a hunger strike. It was because of this threat that we were returned to the Club and after 24 hours Dr. M. broke his hunger strike and we had breakfast with him.
We spent a few days at the Officers’ Club. One evening at midnight, they told us to get ready to leave again. Dr. Sadiqi, Mohandes Moazami and I were put into a jeep and taken to an unknown destiny. We drove this distance, each in separate cars. Fifteen minutes later, they handed us to the officer on duty at Saltanat Abad. It was in Saltanat Abad that our interrogation began. We did not know of each other’s well being as each of us was kept in a separate room. A few weeks later, we were taken to the Lashgar Zerehi. All this time, we did not know where Dr. Mossadegh was being held until one day they informed me that I should present myself at the trial. As I entered the courtroom and saw Dr. M. for the first time, I was very happy since until that point I had no idea how he was doing.
[When Dr. Shayegan saw Dr. Mossadegh in the courtroom for the first time after being separated from him, he recited the following verse: “Seeing a friend filled my heart so much so that I forgot all about myself”].
***********
The American Ambassador to Iran in a telegram dated 21st of August, describing the events of those days and of calmness in Tehran and other provincial towns, wrote, “ The most upsetting fact that we should take into account is that a few very dangerous individuals of the nationalist leaders have not been arrested as of yet. These include, Mossadegh, Fatemi, Shayegan, Hasibi and others. They could in turn cooperate with the Tudeh leaders and conspire with them. Fatemi, contrary to reports that he was assassinated on Aug. 19th, is still alive. He is the most notorious and infamous in Mossadegh’s entourage. Because of his vengeful nature, he will likely do anything to form an alliance of nationalists and Tudeh members.” (Colonel Nejati, Mossadegh: Years of Struggle and Resistance)
“After the arrest of Dr. Mossadegh, Dr. Shayegan, Dr. Sadighi, Mohandes Seifollah Moazami, on August 20th 1953, each and every one of Mossadegh’s colleagues was arrested and incarcerated. Among them were Abdolali Lotfi, Sartip Taghi Riahi, Bashir Farahmand (who was injured badly), Keshavarz Sadr and others. The military commander announced that more than 200 of the former government officials were arrested and taken to the prisons of Shahrbani, military prison. On 4th of Shahrivar, a group of them were taken to the prison of Falafolaflak and others were taken to Khark Island.” (Mohammad Ali Safari- Pen and Politics: An Overview of the Modern History of Iran).
*****************
Excerpts of an interview with Dr. Shayegan in 1980:
What do you think of the 25th of Mordad coup and how Dr. M. reacted towards the coup planners?
After the first coup we were not waiting for the second coup to take place and because of this the execution of Nasiri and other collaborators was never discussed. In light of what happened later, if the government had reacted more forcefully, perhaps the Aug 19th coup would not have occurred or at least not so fast. At my tribunal and that of Mohandess Razavi and Dr. Hossein Fatemi in order to provoke the judges against me they used the phrase I had uttered in a speech that “The item which was supposed to go to Egypt went to Baghdad instead.” [Referring to the Shah who fled to Baghdad].
They tried Dr. Mossadegh alone; but they tried Dr. Razavi, Dr. Fatemi and me together. Dr. Fatemi was arrested alone. This courageous man endured much in prison. He had been stabbed several times with a knife and could not even get out of bed. While lying on his back, his injuries got worse resulting in new wounds. Even until the day before his execution, everyone thought the Shah would pardon him. On the night of his execution, we went to bed happy, thinking that he was not in imminent danger. But they woke us up in the middle of the night to tell us whether we wanted to say our last good-byes to the Dr. Mohandes Razavi and I went to see him. In the room, Dr. Fatemi was sleeping on the bed. To talk about those moments is very difficult for me. In any case, after an hour or so, we heard shots fired; it was at that moment that Dr. Razavi and I realized that our friend and long- time colleague had been executed.
What do you think of the current situation and of the Revolution?
I have repeatedly expressed my opinion in this regard and I will say it again. I don’t know how much one should emphasize the importance of freedom and independence of Iran which must be at the forefront of the Revolution. But from what I have seen and heard in the last few weeks in Tehran and other cities, the news is worrisome. It is disturbing and disappointing that freedom seekers have been targeted. I even read in a newspaper that some people attempted to bomb my house. They must realize that like years before, when hundreds of thousands were not afraid of death, today the same number of people are not afraid of these threats and will continue the struggle…..
(Bamdad, No. 85, Sunday 28 Mordad 1358 (August 19, 1980)
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labling
by Shirzadegan on Sun Sep 02, 2012 10:45 PM PDT"Shah says why his majesty left. Not by choice, but by force!!!" ham1328
The voice in the clip is unclear, especially the 2nd half. Anyhow the clip doesn't offer anything new as we all know it.
During shah days, I was a little kid and I was not able to realize what a smart leader we had in our country. As an adult when I am listening to his tapes and see his logic, I am greatly impressed by such a smart leader we had. All David Frost's questions were intelligently answered,especially once he was talking about C.I.A. He mentioned that we had "mutual interest".
Yes, that is the key word...."mutual interest".
After WWII, labling became very popular among intelletuals. The psychology behind "Labling" is to disarm the opposit idea. It is meant to target people's "national pride" for achieving political objectivity.
Each country has their own agenda and their own policy. For example, during cold war USSR viewed the world as the "Time for socialism". On the other hand, Mao viewed the word as "Time of imperialism" and western block viewed the world based on human right for freedom and democracy. Each of these 3 line of thinking had their own sympathiezers in each country whom they support. For example, Dr. George Habbash, the leader of "Resistance for Palestinian liberation" was a sympatheizer of Mao thinking. He was receiving all his fund from Mao, but no one accused him of being Chinesse puppet or Anwar Khageh from Albania. After Iran mess in 1979, "Pykar" organization was fully supported by China. Mao died in1982 and probably that was the reason the organization vanished after that. Till today, No one accused PYKAR organization of being Chinesse puppet. They were considered "Khaliq hero". Tudeh party was also supported by USSR. Again no one claimed they were Soviet puppet. In fact, they always talked about "Brother's party" and "internationalism of communism". I remember Mohammad Porhomozgan one of the top theorician of Tudeh party was saying: each communist has 2 ID. one is nationalism the other one is internationalism. He was executed during 1988 massacre of political prisoners.
In 1976 during S.A.V.A.K raided of resident of HAMID ASHRAF in Tehran. They found Lybian money in his resident. Suprerisinly, no one even mentioned that he was a puppet of Ghaddafi. On strike contrast,that was not the case for pro western sympathiezers. They were immediately labled as being "puppet".
As shah mentioned, we had mutual interest with "Free world". That didn't taste good for "Reds". They didn't want to see Iran as a best ally of U.S in the Middle East. That was the reason all these garbages came up. Labling was easist way for these monsters to prevaill and reach their evil agenda, as they did in 1979.
Anyway, General Huyser was in Iran to help the best ally of the U.S in the middle east. There is an expression among Americans who say: "Friend indeed, are friends in need". Huyser was not there to hurt the relationship between Iran and America. Who said trying to stop violence by inviting army to be natural is something bad and hurt shah? Vilolence breed violence. Peace breed peace. Huyser did a good job by suggesting shah to leave, not to get killed or he suggested the army to be natural in order to stop the bloodshed. Is that make shah puppet? on the other hand, Ardeshir Zahedi suggested the shah should stay in Iran and doesn't leave. Is that makes shah puppet of Zahedi?. No these people were tying to help. Not to hurt. Huyser also was not in Iran to help Khomaini to take power- some one who was a sworn enemy of U.S .Someone who was enemy of western culture according to his books. His idea in his books are vividly indicated he was way opposed with western style of living.
If Huyser was in Iran to hurt shah (which highly likely) that would be very "poor judgement" on U.S part or "poor judgement of anyone in U.S adminstration. To replace a friend with a sworn enemy. I am sure these garbages is only production of ill minded Dai jan napolian. NO common sense.
Now that you mentioned it ...
by anglophile on Sun Sep 02, 2012 09:30 AM PDTAynak jan it is "cease" not "sieze" dear:
"LOL. Mossadegh will seize to be the topic of the day when:"
and as for the other fellow: some education helps (LOL):
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=efxNWPDeRoQ
Re Hyedeh and Mossadegh!
by Arj on Sun Sep 02, 2012 08:17 AM PDTMy friend, aynak; Hayedeh had a beautiful voice, but that is not the reason that supporters of the Pahlavi tyranny and followers of Vosugh-ol-doleh use her for. The reason they use hayedeh as a symbol, is that she (among others such as Mahasti and Gooogoosh...) were the official singers of the Pahlvi courtyard (Darbar), as are the likes of Eftekhari and Sharifian to IRI's Beyt-e Rahabari!
Interestingly, singers who had equally good voices, such as Driush, Farhad and Forughi... who did not suck up to Shah and some of whom spent time in his prisons, are not praised by the same Shahollahis! Reminds one of the treatment Shajarian receives under IRI!
Your dream ended on 19 Aug 1953 - Never to come back
by anglophile on Sun Sep 02, 2012 07:17 AM PDTThanks to an awakened nation who ceased to be fooled any longer by Imam Mossadegh.
Anglophiles qualifiy to be a basijis, or even Ayatollah!!
by ham1328 on Sun Sep 02, 2012 07:06 AM PDTAs I said, the link was not GURANTEED to teach everyone!! Sadly, some cannot ever learn.
Ayatollah thinks very much like you and Shah, he has done nothing wrong! Sweet dreams of SHAHANSHAHI.... It ended on Jan. 16TH. 1979, never to return.......over & out.
Hamid,
No amount of sentimentalization can comfort your self-guilt
by anglophile on Sun Sep 02, 2012 05:47 AM PDTAnd I lost my entire family!!
No thanks to "mossadeghollahis", like you and the rest of the Bazargan cohorts, sucking up to Khomeini.
No continue licking your own wounds.
double post
by anglophile on Sun Sep 02, 2012 05:48 AM PDTdouble post
Here it from the horse's mouth.
by ham1328 on Sun Sep 02, 2012 05:21 AM PDTThis is Shahansh's last interview with David Frost, a 55 minutes long video which CAN, but not gurranteed, to teach some, a bit of truth!!In it, Shah says why his majesty left. Not by choice, but by force!!! SAND IS GRAVEYARD OF MANY, WHO DIE WITH THEIR HEADS IN IT....
One of my younger brothers was executed by Khomeini on March 19/1979, thanks to SHAH for leaving his ministers and vice ministers in jail while he fled. And two of my kids, ages 13 and 28 died while in custody of Islamist Rapists. That's a lot more than what so called TAGHOTIES have, do or will ever do for their country. Now, watch your idloe telling the world what was the personal message General Huyser's delivered to him.
Hamid,
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMa9CT29cQE
Sorry old chap but you gave the game away
by anglophile on Sun Sep 02, 2012 04:15 AM PDT"His reign brought us the darkest days of remembered history of IranZamin."
Even the "mother of all sorrows" (need I say whom I mean) doesn't believe in this statement. You, old fellow, surpassed her in Mossadeghollahism.
As our good friend says: TABRIK (LOL)
Because of momy and daddy said so....
by Shirzadegan on Sat Sep 01, 2012 10:01 PM PDT"I was raised in a national front family" ham1328
" One posts a 10 second clip of Shah, claiming he is not an American puppet as evidance!" ham1328
Where is the proof for this alligation? any documentation? because momy and daddy said so, then it must be true. Mommy and Daddy can't be wrong. So we shouldn't listen to majesty in his 10 second clip, we should listen to this guy's mom and dad and learn from them. L.O.L
This one really put smile on Aynak's face.
Get my point, some JUST CAN'T LEARN....
by ham1328 on Sat Sep 01, 2012 08:14 AM PDTThe reply below by Anglophile proves excactly what I said.
SOME CANNOT AND WILL NOT LEARN!! Blame the rise of Islamist Rapists on Mosaddeq, who was overthrown by Shah's masters a quarter of century before the demise of Pahlavis. Shah's 25 year reign after Moseddaq is not responsible for what is going on in Iran today! This is very very sad to hear from those 2% to 4% who claim to be Iranians.
Hamid,
Meet a Mossadeghollahi
by anglophile on Sat Sep 01, 2012 07:42 AM PDTThe generation of such octagenarians are still licking their wounds . Why? Because their pretentions to democracy together with their leader's did not fool a disullsioned nation and were kicked out by the same nation. Residing in the States and away from the hell they led the nation into some thirty four years ago, they never saw, experienced or tasted at close hand the kind of damnation the nation was plunged into as result of their support for Khomeini. No wonder they still believe that the darkest period of Iran zamin was not under the Islamic regime but inder the Shah! Is there a more shameful evidence of the collaboration of these Mosadeghollahi (and their Bazarganite colleagues) with the Islamic regime than this statment?
Drood bar Mr. Shayegan, Dr. Mosaddeq and this historic blog..
by ham1328 on Sat Sep 01, 2012 06:29 AM PDTIt's no use trying to teach those who cannot learn. A friend of mine, who was a learning disabaled students' teacher, told me a long time ago :SOME JUST CANNOT LEARN"
It's just useless to try to reason with or teach those who are not capable of learning. Just reading some comments of supporters of a doom regime that brought us these monsters today, shows the gravity of our divide. They still worship dictatorship, as long as it's their dictator!! One posts a 10 second clip of Shah, claiming he is not an American puppet as evidance! And yet, Reza Pahlavi says 1953 coup (28 of Mordad) was just a fairy tail!!! It's so pathetic that Reza Pahlavi cannot get anywhere near 10% of likes that Mousavi, or Akhoond Karouboi got on facebook. Go ahead and worship your fantasies all you want, but SHAH LEFT IRAN, BECAUSE HE WAS ORDERED TO.
His reign brought us the darkest days of remembered history of IranZamin. If you cannot understand democracy in the west, you'll never learn it under another Shah!
Dear Fariba thank you again for your woderful blog, perhaps one of the top responded to posts ever.
Hamid,
some educational materials for Aynak
by Shirzadegan on Fri Aug 31, 2012 09:06 PM PDT"No need to read comic strips, as the Angl+Shir combo (a new mutation) have created comic relief" Aynak
Dear Aynak,
I am very pleased to hear that my write up put smile on your face rather than causing anger and resentment. Nothing is more delightful than to see our country men/women are happy and cheerful.
If you scroll down to reach to the comment under "Thank you" from Fariba Amini you read as:
"Dear Aynak,
Very well said. One of the main arguments between the Shah and Mossadegh was that he should reign and not rule." Fariba Amini
Now, let's see how much this statement is accurate. Let's go to liberary and dig into the history book. Like you, In 1953 I was NOT even born, but Unlike you I grow up in Iran. Went school in Iran and my undergraduate degree has a logo of "Islamic Republic of Iran" (NOT shahanshahi). So my information is based on the historical document from those days. Let's dig into the official document from Tudeh party from those days. These documents was traslated by Dr. Maziyar Behrooz, assitant professor of history department in University of California in San Franciso. NOT by me. Let's see what the document says.
" It is clear that the Tudeh passed its intelligence on the pending coup to the prime-minister on August 15, 1953. The period August 16-19, 1953 was a short and crucial one and needed a quick, focused, and determined reaction by the Tudeh leadership if the situation was to be turned around. Instead, chaos and lack of determination prevailed. While on his own initiative, one Tudeh officer, Lt. Ali Ashraf Shoja'iyan, helped Musaddiq's guards arrest Col. Ne'matollah Nasiri the courier of the royal decree dismissing Musaddiq, the rest of the Military Organization did not take any action. On the seventeenth, the party began to call for abolition of the monarchy and establishment of a democratic republic. Tudeh members were instructed to join demonstrations for the new cause."
This is between August 15 to August 18,1953. Shah left the country to prevent the bloodshed and he was in Rome.
Do you see any part of this write up says what Ms.Amini is saying?
Do you see anywhere says shah must return to crown to reign, not rule.?
I don't see it. What do you see?
I personally see the future form of goverment of Iran it says "Democratic Republic of Iran" and "abolishing monarchy". Do you understand what does it mean? It means Iran should be run under hegemony of Mosaddeq and his comrades Tudeh party back by Soviet Union.
Do you know why Amin's family can't see this fact? why their judgement has been impaird? it is called "Conflict of Interest" it is like you have a brother who is heroin addict, but you love him regardless of what. You won't see his bad behavior. Now, where this love originated? In case of Amini's family, it is originated when late father was hired by these people to defend them. People such as shamshiri, takhti. .......do you know who these people were? They were source of income for family. This is nothing to be ashmed of. It is a job. If late Amini didn't do it, someone else would have done it. Nothing is wrong with that.
I have already mentioned example of DDR. Let's choose another example which is closer to Iranian society than Germany. Let's take a look at Democratic Republic of Ethiopia which was so called "nationalism"comingled with Marxism back by Soviet Union.Mengistu haile Mariam nationalized all the banks. In a public speech, he shouted "Death to counterrevolutionaries! Death to the EPRP!" and then produced three bottles of what appeared to be blood and smashed them to the ground to show what the revolution would do to its enemies. Thousands of young men and women turned up dead in the streets of the capital and other cities in the following two years. They were systematically murdered mainly by militia attached to the "Kebeles
Mengistu's charge sheet and evidence list was 8,000 pages long. The evidence against him included signed execution orders, videos of torture sessions and personal testimonies[26]Mengistu's genocide did not necessarily target a particular group. They were directed against anybody who was opposing his government, and they were generally much more political than based on any ethnic targeting
Those who keep saying Mosaddeq Democratic Republic hasn't seen this side of the coin. They have a big delusion which has been glavenized by those who had complex against shah.
Hope this pieace of information open your eyes. Now again I didn't get a chance to talk about legal and ethical aspect of conflict of interest. Hopefully next session.
Ba Mehr,
Siavash
Mossadegh would be the topic of the day
by aynak on Thu Aug 30, 2012 05:08 PM PDT"Do you know Mossadegh is not the Topic of the Day any longer? FYI, the Topic of the Day is Hayedeh:
//iranian.com/main/blog/all-iranians-127"
LOL. Mossadegh will seize to be the topic of the day when:
1-We have a national government governing Iran, instead of ruling regime dictating to Iran.
2-When the ideals set forth by Mossadegh, in inclusion of ALL Iranians including religious minorities, and all political parties and groups becomes a reality.
3-When we have a society that none forces Hejab on women and no one forcefully takes Hejab out of them, nor forces a dress code for admission to buildings .....
4-When interest of Iran, and Iranian people will be above any "External" power or interest.
5-Iran is governed by accountable/electable government.
Until that day, we need to focus on Mossadegh not a singer.
+++++
Fariba Jan,
Thank you for the offer, but both books are not even worthy of a review. The authors are so biased, and hide so much *context* and it is so one sided that is laughable anyone would produce such work of crap and be willing to put their name on it too.
One funny part by Matini, on "2nd edition" is:
After first edition became unavailable!!! (Due to such high demand of course) I had to do the second (of course he forgets 2 paragraph above he mentions first edition was only --60--).
To use the term Naa-Yaab to describe lack of availability for a book that has only 60 copies floating, sets the tone for quality of discussion a reader can expect from Matini.
And of lost causes ...
by anglophile on Thu Aug 30, 2012 10:28 AM PDTlet us not forget when the so called followers of "Mossadegh's path", supported Mossadegh's number one enemy in a bid for power only to be discarded by the same gentleman, six months later. You know whom I mean (LOL)
Jenab-e Fariba Amini
by All-Iranians on Thu Aug 30, 2012 09:00 AM PDTDo you know Mossadegh is not the Topic of the Day any longer? FYI, the Topic of the Day is Hayedeh:
//iranian.com/main/blog/all-iranians-127
Seriously!
Reactions to Mr Mohammad Amini
by anglophile on Thu Aug 30, 2012 09:31 AM PDTHere we go again
by Fariba Amini on Thu Aug 30, 2012 06:34 AM PDTWhen people have no good argument or a valid one, they always find and raise petty issues or create fiction! That is how this Shir-z is trying to muddy the waters by this "conflict of interest" business. But judging from his arguments, one can see that he has zero logic.
Now, for some people who may be suffering from Alzheimer, I will repeat myself and this is the last time:
When I was writing the book "Letters from Ahmad Abad" while my father was still alive, I asked him did Dr. M. gave you money while you were his personal lawyer? He said Yes, as Dr. M. was a correct and precise man. But I endorsed every single check in the name of Najmieh Hospital which had 14 beds for the impoversihed who could not afford medical treatment. That was in the 1960's. What the hell that has to do with today? Mossadegh is long gone and there is no estate to be paying me or my family! He also didn't loot the treasury like his highness to have millions in hiding in Swiss or American accounts!
We were raised in a household that Mossadegh was part of it. My father never stopped talking about him, his encounters, his time in Ahmad Abad. etc etc. but it was only many years later, when I was grown up and really in the past 10 years that after reading and reading about him, by him that I came to understand what this man was about- a visionary, a democrat to the bone, a believer in the rule of law and in free press, a man who also did not believe in violence as a means to stay in power. Thus, I came to admire the man more so from reading about him rather than a personal family admiration.
********
Dear Aynak,
What a great idea to put Matini's book in the WC for pleasure reading! a few years ago he and Dr. Akbari were on VOA and he was arguing that Mossadegh was double faced and had dual characteristics. Dr. Akabari was able to masterfully argue against. He like other monarchists though more educated was taken aback and could not come up with a good argument.
Since you are interested in the subject, my brother has just published a book in reply to Mir Fetrous. I have not seen it but I hear it has solid documents to once and for all put an end to the Shah supporters' nonsense. I know it has been published in L.A. by Mr. and Mrs. Khalili who own the bookstore there. By the way, they are Jewish Iranians and staunch supporters of Dr. M.
A footnote: The Shah and his family have never even bothered to help those who
were their rank and file, never. RP is extremely stingy and I have
spoken to several old army people who told me that he never offered to
help them when they asked.
I can't wait till tomorrow
by aynak on Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:31 PM PDTNo need to read comic strips, as the Angl+Shir combo (a new mutation) have created comic relief, from this informative but sad blog. But tomorrow, we will hear first hand, Shirs take on the complex matter of "Conflict of Interest". (How that may relate to Fariba would be part of another fun filled exchange, but my initial reaction is, this may have to do with when banks provide you with different interests which could create a conflict which can cause a war, but will see).
BTW I finally finished Jalal Matini's book on Mossadegh. I started reading it when I was on vaction, but after first chapter, did not want to spend valuable vaction time on it, plus it was rather dull. So left it for bed time reading. That was quiet effective in putting me to sleep, for couple of nights, until yesterday, when "Golab Beh Rootoon" had bad Mexican food. I have since moved it to toilet reading, which is where it should have been all along, even though it is over, select chapters can always be referred back to, for help for that all important matter.
Sorry Mr. Arj.... you volunteerly provided information.
by Shirzadegan on Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:08 PM PDTBy reviewing of what you said, I just pointed out that you volunteerly these information. I didn't know anything about your life and I never put the gun on your head to get those information about your life. Sure, NO exchange of idea. I respect that.
BTW, Unlike what you were thinking my time is very limited, precious. I don't have that much time to stay on computer on daily basis. I still haven't had chance to explain Conflict of Interest for the reader of this blog to let them know Ms. Amini can't be a judge of Mossaddeq character because of conflict of interet. May be tomorrow.
Best wishes,
Siavash
Offloading junk!
by Arj on Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:04 PM PDTShir.../Siavash..., What part of "NO" don't you understand when I say I have NO desire to enter into any exchanges wiht you? N, or O?!
As I said, and same as is in a hostage situation, you are trying to force me into an involuntary conversation, just like someone standing in other people's lawn and shouting repetitive, unfounded B.S. at them! It's like listening to a distorted version of a story on a broken record or a scratched CD! "Shoulder length hair.., a six year old joining Kharabkaran?" How many more times do you want to go through this? Take a look at the level of conversations you try to initiate! What kind of a sane person is going to take them seriously? Are you actually under the impression that you can make me feel embarrassed by repeating what your feeble mind and "sharp memeory" concoct?!
What is wrong with you? Seriously! Are you a retired bored person, or are you a pre-teen kid yanking my chain (because, frankly, no mature person could embody such a lack of sophistication for political discourse)? Perhaps it's time for a new hobby! Perhaps you should try to get out more! Your memory is backed up with junk, perhaps it's time to pipe down and clear your mind! I don't know to be quite honest with you, but it might help to see a professional of some sort! (If you catch my drift!!!) :->
Arj. baseless accusation
by Shirzadegan on Wed Aug 29, 2012 06:12 PM PDT"I have no desire to engage in an exchange with you, for it would be rather a hostage situation than a discussion in which I'd end up defending the basic human rights (such as freedom of speech, opinion, education, domicile, freedom of movement...) of my family members, for your intrusive inquisitions know no boundaries" Arj.
Intrusive inqisition? I don't remember any time to ask you anything about your family members. You are the one who revealed yourself to the public when you said that your older brother, with shoulder length hair, his hair was pulled by arresting police officer in 1974 when you were 6 years old ! and you couldn't sleep as the result of that pulling hair. it was dramatic event in your life to the extend that made you hate shah since then...!!! and you wanted to join the Kharabkaran. LoL ... at age 6 , very believable to join Fadaeyan or MEK in that time....and your father was dictating to you NOT to speak in the school and public area. Wait a minute... Going shool at age 6? You were saying you were receiving "Free nutrition" food program that shah enforced to prevent hunger among persian school kids.You didn't like the food.
You were eating "free food" from the hands of our shah and at the same time your family bad mouthing shah !! what a lovely people!!!
(Most likely Aynak doesn't know about Free nutrition program in schools when shah was in power. Ms. Amini should educate him. That is Ms. Amini's important task before writing anything about Mosaddeq).
You're the one who said your brother was student at U.T and he applied to Leeds university.
You're the one who said that you always had problems with authority figures since you were in school. Many times receiviing theat from different people. for example, you were receiving "Death threat" by Pakistani radical muslims whom you challenged them for Islam. In respond,I mentioned that you won't be happy any political system comes on power in Iran. You will always have problem with authority figures. I mentioned examples of Dariush, Angela Davis who won't be ever happy with any system because they have problem with authourity figures. Dariush, the Iranian singer who will be opposed with any political system take over. It doesn't matter who will be.
You are the one who provided all these information, NOT to me, but to the public.
Like I said before, Unlike many people, I have a sharp memory and I memorized everything people were saying. I am sorry I memorized everything you said. I am sorry your contradiction comments didn't work for you, it worked against you.
Have I ever asked you to reavel all this intimate part of your family to me or to the public? Never, ever. it is you who revealed yourself and now you feel bad about it. Why do you blame it on me?
Warmest Regard,
Siavash
ham1328 Concern...
by Shirzadegan on Wed Aug 29, 2012 05:09 PM PDT"... In spring of 1963(15TH. of Khordad), when Khomeini started his first attempt to challange Shah's rule. His majesty waited for orders from Washington to deal with the crises" ham1328
Some naive people such as Aynak with limited knowlege of history and politic, will fall for this kind of claim, but some smart people such as Anglophile, who knows political games, quickly spot the claim as baseless.
Now, let's ask H.I.M to see what he has to say.
Question:
Your majesty, our friend Hamid by user name of ham1328 concerns as whether Iran was controlled by America?
please click on the below link to see majesty answer.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndyGNIs3iN8
Dear Parham
by Fariba Amini on Wed Aug 29, 2012 03:21 PM PDTUnfortunatley,
I cannot give you a good answer. Maybe each and every one of us can find a solution to the existing problem that faces our country but it really begins with us, every one of us.
We can start changing.......... to become a better person. As for Mr. Ang, he is a lost cause.
Guys I am really enjoying this
by anglophile on Wed Aug 29, 2012 01:36 PM PDTI hope this blog is preserved as one of the best examples of the cult of Mossadegh worship otherwise known as Mossadeghollahism. A small number of cult followers as the Persian saying goes "miborand-o-midoosand" between themselves and keep complimenting each other of their father's "achievments"!! They re-define every term and re-write the history (oops sorry meant re-create the history) based on their papa's memoirs or that of a romantic lawyer!!
Just a minor correction to Ms Amini's recreated history:
"The nationalist forces never wanted the absolute power, that is why Dr. M. refused to use force to stay in power. He wanted to rule through the Parliament and use legislations to enforce his ideas which to some extent he was successful. "
Even the most pro-Mossadeghi writers as Katouzian and Abrahamian have documented Mossadegh's insatiable thirst for extended powers: from the executive which was his domain anyway to sidelining the judiciary (releasing Razmara's murderer through a bullied Majles) to demanding the command of the armed forces right through to illegally dissolving a disapproving Majles. Not to forget his faking faint antics when he would not get it his way to fake hunger strikes and sit-ins, all in all were the hall marks of an absolutist ruler who was gaining total power step by step.
Fortunately he failed.
Oh, sorry to interrupt this fascinating cultish worship, please carry on.
from the pages of history
by Fariba Amini on Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:50 AM PDTNormal
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یک
بار در زمان محاکمه مرحوم مصدق به سلطنتآباد رفتم و در تالار آینه بین تماشاگران
نشستم. مصدق در همان حال مشغول بحث درباره این نکته بود که اینکه قانون اساسی
عزل و نصب وزیران را موقوف به صدور فرمان شاه کرده است به معنای این نیست که شاه
حق
عزل و نصب وزیران را دارد.
مصدق در همین حال چشمش به من (یعنی عنایت) در میان جمعیت
افتاد و گویی مقام سردفتری من چیزی را به یاد او آورد که بلافاصله گفت درست مثل
این است که بگوییم چون خرید و فروش هر خانهای موقوف به تهیه و تنظیم اسنادی با
امضاء صاحبان محضر است بنابراین صاحب محضر شخصا حق خرید و فروش منازل را هم دارد در
حالی که امضاء سردفتر در پای یک سند یک عمل تشریفاتی است و به همین قیاس امضاء شاه
در پای فرمان عزل و نصب وزیران هیچ حقی برای او ایجاد نمیکند و صرفا جنبه
تشریفاتی دارد و اگر جز این باشد مشروطه معنایی ندارد و باید اندوهگین باشیم که
خون شهداء راه آزادی به هدر رفته و
ما هنوز در عهد استبداد بسر میبریم.
Dear Fariba
by Parham on Wed Aug 29, 2012 09:12 AM PDT"What we need is a total overhaul of our society, culturally, morally and politically."
How do you suppose we can achieve that?
Dear Arj - Mokhlesim.
Responses
by Arj on Wed Aug 29, 2012 04:20 PM PDTMy friends Parham, aynak and Ms. Amini; thank you for your wonderful posts. I enjoy reading them, and welcome back Parham!
As I mentioned before, supporters of despots come in all shapes and forms; from Savaki/Pasdar to Shaban Bimokh/Lebas Shakhsi, to the West-residing "scholars" who try to convince that sanctions against IRI (even ones approved by UN) hurt the ordinary Iranians while the Islamic regime plunders the $100 billion oil revenue on a yearly basis, and finally those who say "look, I'm not saying that Shah was perfect, but despite his 37 years of reign as the absolute ruler of Iran, let's focus on the wrondoings of Mossadegh during his two-year tenure as prime minister!" So they try to set the ground rules and tilt the table in their own favour as if the main argument here is whether the Shah was perfect or not!
------------------------------------------------------
Thank you dear Hamid, indeed the claim of constitutionalism is a pretext for the monarchists to revive the now-dead, despotic rule of Pahlavis. Otherwise, why didn't they defend the constitution during the 37 years when Shah made a toilet paper out of it, or when Reza Shah called the parliament a "tavileh?!"
-----------------------------------------------------
Shirzadegan/Siavash,
As I mentioned before, I have no desire to engage in an exchange with you, for it would be rather a hostage situation than a discussion in which I'd end up defending the basic human rights (such as freedom of speech, opinion, education, domicile, freedom of movement...) of my family members, for your intrusive inquisitions know no boundaries! Same goes with your fellow parasite who has made a career out of harrassing other people!
Best of luck
some points
by Fariba Amini on Wed Aug 29, 2012 06:36 AM PDTDear Hamid,
I still think the Shah was not a forceful leader in many ways. He was weak from the beginning. He looked to others ( Americans) to give him the green light. He even preferred to go abroad to the U.S. with his wife and never return to Iran. Read Milani's book. I am not sure about this tape you are referring to. I have never heard about it but I beleive the Shah was not a bloodthirsty dictator. Not at all. I think we have to be fair in our judgments, something that we Iranians are not good at. Look at the way our monarchist friends blame Mossadegh and try to demonaize him. Not even considering that all and all he was in power for only 3 years being pressured left and right, from inside and outside.
What RP has not done, he has never given (nor any of his family members) an honest view of his father's rule and accountability for the $$$$$$ they took from Iran. Who said this money belonged to them?
Dear Arj, your analysis is excellent. What is missing in our discussion after 32 years of the IRI rule is exactly the point you are making. The nationalist forces never wanted the absolute power, that is why Dr. M. refused to use force to stay in power. He wanted to rule through the Parliament and use legislations to enforce his ideas which to some extent he was successful.
As for the article I posted, I think he makes some very valid points. The IRI under Ahmadi Nejad has tried to use the nationalist card whereas they have proven that for them national interest means nothing. It is funny how Mr. Ang writes that Iranians have not learned to live by the rule of law ( I am just translating the phrase) good point, for once I agree with him. That is precisely what Dr. M. and the NF addressed: The Rule of Law. We Iranians always want to work our way around the law not within it. It is imbedded in our culture. Though with the new generation of Iranians who have been raised in the West that is not present.
But let me tell you that having had direct contact with the new generation of Iranians who have been raised under an Islamic Republic, they are not what they seem to be. They are opportunistic, ambitious in a negative way, and will do anything to get ahead. I have had many dealings with them and now I stay away from most of them. This is especially the case with most of the so-called journalists who come from Iran. They also lie, big time.
What we need is a total overhaul of our society, culturally, morally and politically. We have a long ways to go. I am afraid Iran has become a society that the rule of jungle is dominant. Every person for himself.