Revolt in Iran: royalists campaign for a political alternative on social networks
Photo dated 1928 of Shah Reza Khan Pahlavi, surrounded by his children.
AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
In Iran, part of the protest takes a royalist turn, calling for the return of the monarchy of the king of Iran, called Shah.
A political system in force until 1979 and the advent of the Islamic Republic.
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with our correspondent in Kurdistan,
Théo Renaudon
It is especially on social networks that this movement emerges, a movement which calls for the return of the king.
On the internet and especially on Instagram and Tik Tok, there are hundreds of videos that are spinning.
We see images of the last Shah of Iran in royal dress on a background of pop music.
But there are also, and above all, descriptions of the country that Iran was under the monarchy.
But it is not just a momentum of nostalgia, the movement goes further, with a real political project in the background.
You should know that the royalists are very present in the powerful Iranian diaspora.
Some would like to see the Shah's crown prince,
Reza Pahlavi
, lead a so-called transitional regime.
Concretely, a petition is currently circulating on the internet, named “
Prince Reza Pahlavi is my representative
”.
It has accumulated, this Wednesday, February 1, 2023, nearly 450,000 signatures, out of an estimated diaspora of 4 to 6 million Iranians.
For the moment, the crown prince does not say clearly that he would play a role in the event of the fall of the Islamic republic, while not ruling out anything for the moment.
He explains himself very regularly on royalist social networks.
“
I see it all this way: leading this movement, but with the help of others.
I will do (it), but not alone.
Leading this movement with the help of others, everyone must play their part in fueling this revolution to lead this regime to its death.
»
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The royalists rejected by the opposition
Other opposition groups regret that the royalists have taken over the protest movement that has been underway for four months.
Like, for example, the Iranian Kurdish Communist Party, the Komala entrenched in Iraq, which hosts the cousin of Mahsa Amini in particular.
Its representative, Hassan Rahmanpanah, is sorry for this nostalgic momentum on social networks and recalls that the monarchy was a repressive regime.
►
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“
It was a dictatorial regime that left no room for the decision of the people.
There were no free political parties, no free press.
No opposition newspapers were allowed.
In the days of the king and his secret police, prisons were filled with political opponents, whether leftist or religious.
I'm really sad when I hear such comments that fantasize the time.
I think of my friends and all the militant Iranians who were locked up and executed for the sole reason of their political ideals.
In fact, this petition reminds me of when Khomenei was given all the power in 1979. I hope the Iranians don't make the same mistake by agreeing to be represented by only one man
», explains Hassan Rahmanpanah.
The party the komala militates for a socialist democracy.
►
Also to listen: Iran: how far will the repression of the unprecedented protest movement go?
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