Son of Iran’s last shah makes divisive visit to Dutch parliament

Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the last shah of Iran, addressed MPs in Dutch parliament on Monday at the invitation of the right-wing liberal VVD, evoking a mix of criticism and support from the country’s Iranian community.

Supporters chanting “Regime change for Iran” gathered opposite parliament, many waving the green, white and red flag bearing a golden lion and sword used in Iran before the 1979 Islamic revolution. Some also carried American and Israeli flags.

Pahlavi presents himself as the man who can lead Iranians out of the current Islamic regime, which has been in disarray since the death of supreme leader ayatollah Ali Khamenei in American and Israeli attacks in March. Khameini’s funeral procession coincided with Pahlavi’s visit.

Critics point out he has never been elected, has no political experience, and has not distanced himself from the human rights abuses committed under his father’s rule.

Calls to withdraw invite
Several Iranian-Dutch organisations wrote an open letter urging the VVD to withdraw the invitation. In response, parliament’s foreign affairs committee created a broader programme of Iran experts, politicians and activists, with Pahlavi speaking in a closed session and receiving the most speaking time.

Writer Shohreh Feshtali, who came to parliament for the meeting, welcomed the invitation, saying it gave the voice of more than 90 million Iranians a platform in the Netherlands, however briefly. “We have been waiting a long time for this,” she told NOS.

Another participant, Eskandari, told the broadcaster the invitation wrongly suggested there was only one voice and one person who could lead Iran’s future. “The people in Iran are not asking for a new strongman, but for freedom, dignity and life.”

The Netherlands is home to one of Europe’s largest Iranian communities, which has held regular demonstrations against the regime in recent years.