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Remembering the Shah of Iran, 25 years later
Payvand ^ | 1/17/04 | Golnaz Esfandiari

Posted on 01/17/2004 1:43:02 PM PST by freedom44

Today is the 25th anniversary of the departure of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi from Iran. Iranians throughout the country joyously celebrated his departure at the time. But RFE/RL reports that many Iranians of all classes tend 25 years later to remember the shah's reign with nostalgia.

Prague, 16 January 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi reigned as the last shah of Iran for almost four decades. But in 1979, the Shah left Iran and never returned. He died of cancer on 27 July 1980 in Cairo.

Veteran Iranian journalist Massoud Behnoud says that the shah's departure from Iran ended an era. "On that day, I mean as soon as the shah's plane left Tehran airport around 12:30, I believe that in that moment the Pahlavi dynasty and also Iran's era of monarchy ended, even though [the people] had to wait 38 days till it was officially announced," Behnoud said.

Two weeks after the departure of the shah, on 1 February 1979, Iran's main religious leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, returned to Iran after 14 years of exile and took power. On 1 April, after a referendum, he declared Iran an Islamic Republic."We learned from 1979 that there can always be something worse."

Behnoud says that at the time, a quarter of century ago, most Iranians took the departure of the shah as a positive development. "Twenty-five years ago on the day when the shah, the last king of the country, left Iran, only a small number of people thought about the fact that 2500 years of monarchy or more were ending. People focused on the reality that a dictator was leaving the scene," Behnoud said.

The shah left Iran after several months of riots and violent protests, orchestrated by Khomeini, against his regime.

Massoud Behnoud was there, and witnessed the celebrations in Tehran that greeted the news that the shah was gone. "As the radio carried the news, and with the early publishing of 'Ettelaat' newspaper with its big 'Shah Has Left' headline, all of a sudden the city exploded. In the queues in front of the gas stations, where people had gathered for gasoline and fuel -- it was winter -- people started to cheer and celebrate. And I had never seen either before that or after it -- in the last 40 years -- such joy," Behnoud said.

Twenty-five years later, however, that joy has faded for most Iranians. Dissatisfaction is growing with theocratic rule. Many who despised the shah, and feared Savak, his secret police, remember his rule with nostalgia. Afshin Molavi, journalist and author of "The Persian Pilgrimages: Journey Across Iran," says that economic hardship and lack of social freedom are main causes.

"When you travel across Iran what you notice is that there is a substantial amount of economic nostalgia for the Shah's era. And you see that just about everywhere you go and among all classes from the working classes to the middle classes, the upper middle classes, and you know there is a reason for that. Since the days of the revolution, Iranians earn in real terms one-fourth of what they did before 1979. And everywhere you go people complain about the lack of jobs. They also complain about the low wages, which they say do not correspond to the high cost of living," Molavi said.

Molavi adds that the devaluation of the Iranian currency is another reason for nostalgia. He said the toman's sharp fall often is used as an indication of the Islamic Republic's mismanagement.

Most of Iran's population had not been born when an Islamic state replaced the monarchy. Molavi says that young people's discontent is more likely to be with the strict social regulations imposed under the Islamic regime.

Journalist Behnoud says that many people regret the departure of Mohammad Reza Shah. But author Molavi says few Iranians would want a return to monarchy.

"They've come to this sort of a unifying idea that the Islamic Republic has not served us well, so what we need is a more democratic republic, and I think that the people don't necessarily believe that a monarchy is an answer to all of their ills," Molavi said.

"New York Times" correspondent Stephen Kinzer is the author of "All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror." He tells RFE/RL correspondent Jeremy Bransten that those who know their history will understand why the shah had to go.

"The root of the shah's problem is that he was never able to establish his legitimacy as a nationalistic, patriotic leader of Iran. And the reason he wasn't able to do that goes back to how he came into power. In the early 1950s, Iran was under a democratic government and had a fairly popular elected leader, Mohammad Mossadegh. But Mossadegh ran afoul of the British and Americans for his desire to nationalize the Iranian oil industry. As a result, the CIA and the British secret service collaborated to overthrow him," Kinzer said.

Kinzer said the shah remained tainted as a tool of foreigners.

"They brought the shah, who had fled the country, back to Iran and placed him on the Peacock Throne. As a result, he was seen by most Iranians, first of all as a tool of outside powers and secondly, as the person who frustrated nationalist and democratic aspirations in Iran. He was never able to escape from that shadow," Kinzer said.

Kinzer says that when he asks people in Iran why they don't rise up against the present government, they reply that as bad as things might be, "We learned from 1979 that there can always be something worse."


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: anniversary; iran; rezapahlavi; shah

1 posted on 01/17/2004 1:43:03 PM PST by freedom44
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To: Doctor Stochastic; SJackson; knighthawk; McGavin999; Stultis; river rat; Live free or die; ...
ping
2 posted on 01/17/2004 1:44:22 PM PST by freedom44
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To: freedom44
I am short on time but today is also the birthday of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN a true American and visionary beyond words. If you get time make a post : ))))
3 posted on 01/17/2004 1:50:22 PM PST by alisasny (Thankyou to all who made 12/28 party so wonderful in NYC)
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To: freedom44
Oh and let us not forget the Jimmah Carter is one of the FOUNDING FATHERS of modern day terrorism as seen from all the facts provided in this article.

THANKYOU JIMMAH you should be ashamed that such a great man was born on the day the SHAH was diposed to bring your new stability to the Middle EAST.

ARGHHHHH
4 posted on 01/17/2004 1:52:32 PM PST by alisasny (Thankyou to all who made 12/28 party so wonderful in NYC)
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To: freedom44
There is still a Shah.

He is the son of the deposed leader, lives in the US, and is active in pursuit of freedom for his country.

I think the Iranians would be well served to bring him back, and to establish a form of government along the lines of Britian's.

I guess that makes me, at least in the case of Iran, a monarchist...LOL...How very strange for a small 'r' republican like myself. ;-)
5 posted on 01/17/2004 1:55:15 PM PST by EternalVigilance
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To: EternalVigilance
http://www.rezapahlavi.com
6 posted on 01/17/2004 1:57:21 PM PST by freedom44
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To: freedom44
Great find.

I grabbed this from his site:


This is a critical moment in the history of my homeland.

The Iran of my youth was a nation at peace with its neighbors and respected within the International community. Our economy was among the strongest in the region, and our people were prospering.

But twenty-two years ago, a catastrophe descended upon my homeland and reversed decades of progress.

Today, Iran has fallen into the abyss of: international isolation, an extremist government, high inflation, huge unemployment, and rampant corruption. The clerical regime brutally suppresses the fundamental human rights within Iran and is the leading exporter of hate and terror beyond its borders.

Today, however, the time has come to write a new chapter in the history of my country.

My goal is simple, achievable and straightforward. I envision an Iran: wherein its prosperous economy gives every Iranian an equal chance for hope and opportunity; An Iran where its women fully participate in the political, socio-economic and cultural life of their homeland; An Iran where its press is free from intimidation, harassment, imprisonment and torture; This vision includes a progressive, civil and stable society in which the separation of Religion and State is recognized. Finally, the Iran of tomorrow ought to have a foreign policy based on principles of harmony and mutual respect.

To get there however, Iranians seek a political system in which participation in free and fair elections are guaranteed for all freedom-loving individuals and political ideologies.

I have called for unity among all groups dedicated to a democratic agenda and outcome to work together for a common cause - the establishment of a democratic and secular government. I intend to lead this movement culminating in a national referendum, beyond this system, and with international supervision, as a means to guarantee freedom and self-determination for the people of Iran.

I am confident that momentum is building and I am certain that the world will witness a dramatic political evolution in my homeland. It is my hope that Iranians will benefit from all the moral support the world community of nations can demonstrate for our quest for liberty.

May God protect Iran and Iranians
7 posted on 01/17/2004 2:04:18 PM PST by EternalVigilance
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To: freedom44

8 posted on 01/17/2004 2:06:17 PM PST by EternalVigilance
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To: freedom44
BTTT
9 posted on 01/17/2004 2:37:03 PM PST by nuconvert ( "It had only one fault. It was kind of lousy.")
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To: EternalVigilance
Thanks for the Pahlavi posts.
10 posted on 01/17/2004 2:37:46 PM PST by nuconvert ( "It had only one fault. It was kind of lousy.")
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To: freedom44; All
-Recalling the Shah of Iran--
11 posted on 01/17/2004 2:46:35 PM PST by backhoe (--30--)
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To: nuconvert
You're welcome.

BUMP!
12 posted on 01/17/2004 2:47:30 PM PST by EternalVigilance
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To: EternalVigilance; freedom44
Thanks For Posting.
13 posted on 01/17/2004 11:01:00 PM PST by F14 Pilot (Is there any truth in that, senor?)
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