IRAN: Royal suicide reminds many of Pahlavi era and errors

Since their exile following the 1978-79 Islamic Revolution and the death of their patriarch that same year, the family of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi has captured the public's imagination as only fallen royalty can.

On Wednesday, Iranians mourned the loss of another member of the royal family, Alireza Pahlavi, the youngest son of the former monarch.

The 44-year-old former prince apparently killed himself Tuesday night after a long bout with depression.

Exiles who either supported the shah or at least thought fondly of the freewheeling period before the revolution have been the most vocal in their mourning. But even some inside Iran have expressed sympathy for the family, despite the shah's brutal legacy of cracking down on his political opponents.

It was the former ruling family's second loss in recent years. Alireza's sister, Leila, died of a drug overdose in a London hotel room a decade ago.

"We have experienced the past 32 years and realized that former regime was much better than this Islamic regime," said 56-year-old Ali, who lives in Tehran. "I also feel sympathy for [former Empress Farah Pahlavi] as a mother who has lost her two children. I lost the future of my country and she lost her children, country and dynasty."

Both Leila and Alireza lived gilded lives in exile. Leila shuttled between London and New York, modeling for top designers, before her 2001 death, which was widely thought to be a suicide. Alireza, who drove himself around Boston in a Porsche, studied music and Persian history at Princeton, Columbia and Harvard but was reportedly deeply affected by the death of his sister.

Reactions on Facebook and other online forums were mixed. Many expressed condolences to the family but distanced themselves from the politics of the shah's era.

News of the suicide broke late Tuesday night after most of Iranian newspapers were put to bed. But the tone of the state-sanctioned media reports on Wednesday appeared to be one of subdued glee. Tabnak, a news website considered close to former Revolutionary Guard commander and presidential candidate Mohsen Rezai, ran the story under the headline "Another Pahlavi Commits Suicide" next to a graphic featuring the silhouette of a man holding a gun to his head.

Alef, a news site owned by conservative lawmaker Ahmad Tavakkoli, ran the story under the headline "Serial Suicides Continue in Pahlavi's Family" along with the picture of the Boston townhouse where he resided. 

Outlets close to the Iranian opposition have been mute on Alireza's death, perhaps feeling vulnerable to accusations of royalist nostalgia.

Though the shah is remembered fondly by mostly wealthy Iranian monarchists living abroad in Paris, London and Los Angeles, he also is remembered by some as a brutal autocrat who maintained his grip on the "Peacock Throne" by cracking down violently on popular opposition to his rule with the backing of American intelligence services.

Alireza is survived by his older brother, Reza Pahlavi, who has been the family's public face. Reza's official website announced the death of "prince" Alireza, who, "like millions of young Iranians," was "deeply disturbed by all the ills fallen upon his beloved homeland, as well as carrying the burden of losing a father and a sister in his young life."

-- Meris Lutz in Beirut

Photo: Alireza Pahlavi at Prince Rainier III's funeral procession in 2005 in Monaco. Credit: Lionel Cironneau / Associated Press

Comments

[Jack Steen]

I believe this photograph is NOT Alireza.

Go to the Facebook page and see real pictures of him.

This is some other man.

[mittra]

"the tone of the state-sanctioned media reports on Wednesday appeared to be one of subdued glee."

How ironic -- or not! -- that we can say the same about the leftist-government-sanctioned American media too from what I have read so far . . . subdued -- or not! -- glee!

You know whose history is drenched in blood? It is the history of radical leftism.

It never seizes to shock me the level of indecency and black-heartedness of the radical leftist. Truly, what is wrong with these folks? Where does it come from, the dark depths of their malice and venom?

At its essence this is what got us into trouble in Iran in the first place: the leftists' bitter spite combined with their reckless folly and lunacy! They ganged up and signed a contract with the devil himself -- the khomeinist islamists -- for the slaughter of their own country just to spite a monarch and a regime that had given them every one of their "avant-garde" liberal freedoms and rights and welfare in a country in the thick of Middle Eastern mores and traditions which was entrapped in cold war geo-political superpower intrigues and conspiracies, if these nanny-coddled, bored, spoiled, revolutionary, brats could see it! Of course they had much support and encouragement from outside . . . their supposed brethren in the west. As many Iranians believe that carter machinated on purpose and design to islamicize Iran for cold war geo-political reasons, I believe even though brzezinski did know what the hell he was up to, for carter it was much more keenly personal and he went about it from the same profound sense of destructive hostility and dislike for the king and his regime. He, as his leftist Iranian brethren, never conceived of the bloodbath consequences of his actions; he operated self-righteously out of personal hate for the king and never considered the future for Iran and her people without the king and/or with khomeinist islamists in charge.

We have gone over and over this calamity and what befell our country, and we have endured the lefts' -- the very culprits' -- sanctimonious fabrications and half-truths, but yesterday our king's son took his own life. We are bereaved; we are heartbroken; another link to our past, to our hold on the age of sanity, to hope and promise, and yes, to nostalgia and wistful remembrance, was torn off. Go away liberals. Just go away, hold your tongues, and say no more.

[maria]

what happened to soraya the first wife of the shah live she stil in germany

[cavscout]

Bring back the monarchy!!! Students need to stand up to this clerical tyranny again and again until they are overthrown!!!!

[Aria]

I just get disgusted by the way how most American-British journalists try to portray Mohammad reza Shah of Iran. It is not up to you Judge about the HIM the Shah of Iran. We Iranians know that he loved his country and that he was a true Persian patriot. Today most of the Iranians regret the revolution and ask for forgiveness a thousand times. They realized that they have been tricked by the western media propaganda. Instead of talking trash about the shah and his family you should be a little more critical about President Jimmy Carter and his democrats, who brought the islamic regime to power behind the scenes. The Shah was not perfect, but loved his country. Jimmy Carter and his Green Belt policy strengtened all Islamic Terrorist strong and Sept 11, 2001 was the consequence of his stupid policy. Why can't you leave us Iranians alone and mind your own business? 1953 Democracy in Iran? Are you crazy? You don't know anything about our history. Please don't forget that Mosadegh got most of his votes by the TUDEH (Soviet puppet) party. The TUDEH party supported Mosadegh only because they knew that they easily could get rid of him, since he was an old man. I know what is really bothering you about the Shah, it is not human rights violations, but the fact that The shah in 1973 and beyond gave you guys such hard with the oil prices, that it could be possible that you were forced to walk instead of driving. What is worst, high oil prices or a terrorist regime?

[Anahita]

If today there is real democratic vote in Iran without guns, jail, rape and torture.
Reza Pahlavi will win with huge margin.
The Pahlavi family is loved among all Iranians. The entire country is devasted by the death of their youngest prince. Our hearts are crying for our beloved queen Farah Pahlavi.
If you visit Iran you will only hear people talking about the good old days......

[Reza]

The Pahlavi Dynasty transformed Iran from a backward undeveloped poor country to a modern , prosperous and secure nation in a short period of time. Much of the current backbone of today's Iran owes its existence to the Great Reza Shah and his son who was betrayed by his so called western allies. The Pahlavi era was one of the brightest periods of peace and security for Iran and the world. Just looks at today's sad state of existence , isolation and hopelessness for 70 million Iranians. My deepest condolence to her Royal Highness and her family. May god bless you and keep you comforted in these dark hours. Javeed Iran.

[Max Plank]

Around 1966 UCLA gave the Shah an honoraty degree and he was the commencement speaker. The leftist Iranian students protested, are they happy now?

Carter let the Ayaotollah take over. The Iranian military was read to step in and finish the job once and for all but Carter intervened.

[NadBagh]

Waht kind of jackass reporting is this? As far as I can tell his as a king's son so what's up with putting the word prince in quotes?
Also the Shah is remembered fondly by some who are not wealth or monarchist or in exile.
Who allows this nonsense to pass for reporting? Report the guy's death if you want and maybe mention he was the son of Iran's last/deposed Shah.
Leave the editorializing to someone who knows something about Iranian politics and history.

[geo88a]

"We have experienced the past 32 years and realized that former regime was much better than this Islamic regime." That's the understatement of year. Anything would be better than this regime.
I am sorry for the loss. Depression is nothing to taken lightly.

[Javad]

As a Qujar dynasty Prince, I am sadden that such a young man with so much potentials and opportunities have chosen such useless action, royal dynasties comes and goes in a old country such as Iran nevertheless Iranian peoples wherever they reside are duty bound to stay alive and prosper in order for their country to do the same.
May he rest in peace.

[Daryoush]

I am not a pro-Shah person but I think no realistic person can forget the huge economic, cultural and social developments of Persia in Shah era.

Regarding Prince Alireza, of course the life has been quite difficult for him. Perhaps he tried to save himself with Persian music and history but he failed. Prince Alireza's drama is quite sad, not only because of himself, his story represents the sad story of many Persians who were forced to leave their homeland after 1979 Islamic Revolution.

[woobie]

I strongly believe that if Iran had not governed by the Church and sectarian state would be on par with Saudi Arabia today.

The former Monarchy/Patriarchy was a much more progressive, open and Liberal option wherein several 'religions' and indigenous people lived together for a 'brief' period of peace.

[Alex Arjomand]

You and the others who remember the Shah "...as a brutal autocrat who maintained his grip on the "Peacock Throne" by cracking down violently on popular opposition to his rule with the backing of American intelligence services" really need to get over it!

Firstly the progress during the Pahlavi regime, by all counts, was unparalleled during the Islamic era in Iran.

Secondly, the last 30 years of the Islamic Republic should be confirmation of what kinds of animals he was dealing with--were you to poll Iranians on whether if they could do it again, would they remove the Shah, the overwhelming answer would be "no way".

Finally, have some grace and reflect on a tragic event that has shaken a family as opposed to spewing nonsense about people and events of which you know nothing...

[Ally Bolour]

The only error the Shah made was to send Khomeini into exile. He should have been tried for sedition.

And people should just get over the so called "Pahlavai errors." If anything - after 30 years of Islamic tryranny - it should be clear to the entire world that the Shah was doing the best he could under the circumstances at that time. Yet, even today, reporting on the tragic suicide of Prince AliReza, the Los Angeles Times's article on the subject is still slanted and biased towards emphasizing the "errors" of the Pahlavis.

Its high time for a reality check!
My condolences to the entire nation of Iran - and the Pahlavis.

[straightarrow]

I am one among millions of poor patriotic Iranians who love our Pahlavi Kings and will support the restoration of the King to Iran. Long Live Pahlavi Kings. Long Live Iran. May Prince Ali Reza's soul rest in peace. He was a patriot and an inspiration to us Iranians.

[Pepi]

I was shocked to hear this. He seemed very intelligent. My condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

[H Mack]

My hearties condolences to the Pahlavi family, in particular to Her Royal Highness Fatah Pahlavi. Loosing a husband and two children within 32 years is an enorimous burden to carry. As a father, I cannot imagine how I would handle it.
Mack.

[hass]

Who cares?

[Cyrus]

Aren't you guys tired of this anti-Shah propaganda while currently major academic publications are exactly stating the opposite? Like it or not Mr. Lutz, the Shah is and will remain popular in Iran.