BEHOLD THE PALE HORSE: French Socialists Pay Tribute to Shapour Bakhtiar

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BEHOLD THE PALE HORSE: French Socialists Pay Tribute to Shapour Bakhtiar
by Darius Kadivar
19-May-2010
 

The extradition of Ali Vakili Rad, one of the three Assassin's of Shapour Bakhtiar has created a stir in the French Political Arena. Sincere or Not, the French Socialist Party's spokesperson Benoit Hamon paid tribute to the late Prime Minister in an interview with France Info. Shapour Bakhtiar's reputation as a bold fighter for democracy was not limited to his brave acceptance against all odds of the Post of Prime Minister to the Shah of Iran's crumbling regime. He had also bravely fought in Spain against Franco's Fascist Army by volunteering in the International Brigades and later he joined the Forces Française Libres commanded by General De Gaulle in the Bataillon d'Orléans against Nazi Occupation during WWII.
 

In his interveiw to France Info-Benoit Hamon insisted:

"I am happy for Clotilde Reiss' liberation and obviously my first thoughts are for her and her family, however I also have a deep thought for Iran's late Prime Minister Shapour Bakhtiar, as well as his family". ( Watch Interview in French Here)

Another rising "Star" of the young Socialist Party's political elite Manuel Valls added that if any bargaining was indeed carried out it would be shocking. ( Note: Manuel Valls amongst other French Political activists including philosopher Bernard Henri Levi participated in a public gathering in Support to Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi Solidarity Call last June in the bloody aftermath of the Post Election Protests in Iran).

Reminder of the three Assassins of Bakhtiar:


 

Not everyone shares Hamon's outrage, Green Party Euro Deputy and Icon of France's May 68 Revolution, Daniel Cohn-Bendit asks Hamon to stop pretending to be a "virgin" in relation to French-Iran Relations reminding that not everything was cleanly carried out under President Mitterand's Presidency ( a Hint to the Wahid Gorgi Affaire that divided Jacques Chirac and François Mitterand in a heated presidential election debate back in 1988).

Wahid Gorgi Affaire that divided Jacques Chirac and François Mitterand in a heated presidential election debate back in 1988:

Pro Bakhtiar Demonstrations in Iran-1979:

Shapour Bakhtiar Fought in Spain against Franco by volunteering in the International Brigades and later he joined the Forces Française Libres commanded by General De Gaulle in the Bataillon d'Orléans against Nazi Occupation during WWII.

Scene From Michael Curtiz'- Casablanca-Marseillaise:

( NOTE: If You cannot see Embedded Video Click Here )

Related Pictory:

pictory: France's De Gaulle Visits Iran (1963)

John Huston's Escape to Victory Starring Sylvestor Stallone, Michael Caine, Max Von Sydow-Final Soccer Scene:

The Spanish Civil War depicted in Fred Zinnemann's  Behold the Pale Horse (1964)- Starring Gregory Peck, Omar Sharif and Anthony Quinn:

Recommended Readings:

Iranian Expat Celebrities get passionate over French Presidential Elections by Darius KADIVAR

Related Blogs:

FRENCH NEWS COMPILATION: On Bakhtiar's Assassin's Liberation ( France 24/Euronews)


 

PARIS GATHERING: Shapour Bakhtiar and Soroush Katibeh memory honored in Paris (FRANCE)  

Articles in Relation to France-Iran:


Fereydoune Hoveyda (1924-2006): A Class Apart by Darius KADIVAR

Chahdortt Djavann: A French Author is Born says PARISIAN Elle BY DARIUS KADIVAR

A Night at La Com�die Fran�aise with Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam by Darius KADIVAR

Anic�e (ALVINA) Shahmanesh: France's Sex Icon of the 1970's &  French Sex Icon dies in Paris by Darius KADIVAR

At 82 Is MKO Diva Bidding Farewell to Political Activism or to Music Career? Comments French Media by Darius KADIVAR

French-Iranian director Robert Hossein to revive Epic Tale of Ben Hur in 2006 by Darius KADIVAR  

Iranian Pioneers Of The French New Wave Cinema by Darius KADIVAR


 

Rumi A Great Film Critic's Choice by Darius KADIVAR


 

PAHLAVI MEETS NAPOLEON AT EGYPT EXPO IN PARIS BY DARIUS KADIVAR

 

ENDURING FRIENDSHIP: Alain Delon and Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi at annual Alzheimer Gala in Paris BY DARIUS KADIVAR

Satrapi Launches Official Website & Production Blog of Persepolis: Movie due in Theaters in 2007 by Darius KADIVAR


 

Persian History Inspires French Comic Book Masters by Darius KADIVAR

MAZEH RESTAURANT: A Taste of Persia in the Heart of Paris by Darius KADIVAR

 

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more from Darius Kadivar
 
Brian Appleton

Thanks DK

by Brian Appleton on

Good article! 

Brian H. Appleton

aka

Rasool Aryadust


Mehrban

Bakhtiar one of our best

by Mehrban on

Why didn't the Iranian army support him and declared itself "Bitaraf"? 

Thanks DK jaan for this blog.


humanbeing

thanks dk: bakhtiar NOT an armchair hero

by humanbeing on

didn't know this stuff! bakhtiar fought against franco, and against hitler. actively, not in an armchair. what a cv!

i read the piece on DBC, but didn't understand where he stands on this. i understand the french, but not the subtext.


Joan ValaNejad

DK thank you for posting links to background information

by Joan ValaNejad on

on the recent French tribute to Shahpour Bakhtiar.  These are wonderful resources and illustrate our common humanity.  Hopefully your reminders will prompt grass roots support for effective solutions to the international political morass.