Prince Reza Pahlavi in Geneva: We Will Not Allow Our Country to Be Fragmented

Prince Reza Pahlavi, speaking at the Geneva Human Rights Conference, stated that the Islamic Republic "will not be able to divide Iranians despite all its efforts," emphasizing, "We will never allow our country to be fragmented." He added that the regime has waged war against all sectors of Iranian society, targeting various groups across the country, beyond provincial, linguistic, and ethnic borders. He reiterated, "We are not only fighting against the Islamic Republic; we are fighting for Iran. Therefore, let me be clear: we will never, ever allow our country to be fragmented." Pahlavi highlighted the significance of being in Geneva, the home of the UN Human Rights Council, and thanked the organizers for making the conference a symbol of hope for suppressed voices worldwide. He represented his compatriots whose voices have long been severely suppressed, not only by the oppressive regime occupying their country but also by the ideological biases that distort the truth about Iran. He emphasized that "the story of the Islamic Republic is a story of deception" and noted that one of the consequences of this deception, accompanied by the delusions of the regime's leaders, led Western leaders and many in the media to portray Khomeini as a "saint" and the revolution as a movement towards justice and freedom. However, what followed the revolution was hell on earth. Pahlavi referred to the burning of Cinema Rex in Abadan, which killed over 400 people, as a precursor to what was to come for the people. He noted that after the rise of Khomeini's rebellion, the most capable and patriotic Iranians were the regime's first targets, with military officers, entrepreneurs, intellectuals, specialists, and civil servants who had all contributed to building a proud and developing nation being executed by revolutionaries. He stated, "I personally knew many of them. Their massacre was celebrated and even encouraged in revolutionary newspapers, while there was no news about them in Western media. Many of these men and women remain unknown to the world because they had no lobby or political support. Instead, they were buried in nameless graves, and their families were even denied the right to mourn for them. However, their memory lives on in the determination of the new generation of Iran and in the hearts of those who continue their struggle." Pahlavi also reminded that "the regime then began its war against Iranian women," noting that "the first law Khomeini abolished was the progressive family protection law." He stated that the mandatory hijab law, which was immediately enforced after the revolution, became a tool for oppression and a symbol of the Islamic Republic's obsession with controlling women's bodies and lives. However, from the very first days to today, Iranian women have been fighting. He emphasized, "Let me be clear: Iranian women are not only fighting against the mandatory hijab. Their struggle is not for a piece of cloth, but for reclaiming their equality and their country." He named brave women like Fatemeh Sepahri, Nasrin Shah-Kerami, and Nahid Shirpijeh, who continue to resist despite imprisonment, mistreatment, and relentless abuse, adding, "But I see that their names are unfamiliar to many in this audience. Why? Because some human rights organizations decide which voices to amplify and which to silence based on political biases and ideological preferences." Pahlavi stressed that "this is by no means ethical or acceptable" and that "all those who fight for a secular and democratic Iran should be recognized regardless of their backgrounds or political affiliations." He expressed happiness that the Geneva conference operates in this spirit and thanked them for hosting several of the bravest protesters from Iran and their families at this meeting. In another part of his speech, Pahlavi emphasized that "the Islamic Republic targets people from every ideology and every religion" and that "Baha'is are systematically persecuted, their leaders imprisoned, their cemeteries desecrated, and their youth deprived of education." He added, "Christians, especially Muslim converts, live in constant fear. Sunni Muslims, dervishes, Jews, and Zoroastrians also face widespread restrictions and discrimination, just like their Christian compatriots. The regime's institutionalized opposition to any diversity, including religious diversity, threatens centuries of coexistence and unique unity in Iran." Pahlavi emphasized that "the regime's war against our cultural heritage is also pursued by targeting Iran's pre-Islamic history" and that "places like Persepolis and Pasargadae, symbols of ancient Iranian civilization, are at risk of destruction due to neglect, and access to these sites is often blocked by the regime." He also stressed that Islamic Republic officials "attempt to erase these symbols of national identity, enemies of Iran, trying to rewrite history and deprive Iranians of their rich heritage." Pahlavi continued, "In Iran, even creative individuals are not safe. Musicians, artists, and poets, who are the heart of Iranian culture, sometimes face the death penalty for expressing their feelings." Pahlavi reiterated that "the Islamic Republic has waged war against all sectors of Iranian society," stating that the government "targets various groups across the country, beyond provincial, linguistic, and ethnic borders," but "the regime, despite all its efforts, will not be able to divide Iranians." He emphasized, "We will never, ever allow our country to be fragmented," adding, "We see this in the streets of cities across Iran, where a united nation has risen up." According to Pahlavi, the protests of December 2017 and November 2019 were "fundamental turning points" where "Iranians no longer chanted for reforms" but "they demanded the end of the Islamic Republic." He added, "A decade after the Green Movement sought to reclaim stolen votes, the generations of 2017 and 2019 are fighting to reclaim their stolen country; and they have paid a heavy price." Pahlavi stated that in November 2019, "the regime massacred over 1,500 protesters" and that "many were shot at close range" and "thousands were arrested, tortured, or disappeared," adding, "After that, with the murder of Mahsa Amini in 2022, the movement of women, life, freedom began." He emphasized that although "the regime and its defenders tried to describe this movement along ethnic lines, Mahsa's own mother called her 'daughter of Iran,' and protesters responded with the slogan: 'From Zahedan to Kurdistan, my life is for Iran.' This is the voice of a united nation." Pahlavi added, "Despite the brutal repression and internet blackouts, resistance continues. Manouchehr Bakhtiari, who lost his son Pouya in the protests, relentlessly fights for justice from within his prison cell. His courage embodies the spirit of a people who do not break." Pahlavi emphasized that "the crimes of the Islamic Republic are not limited to the borders of Iran" and that "the regime uses its embassies and so-called 'cultural centers' as bases for espionage and terrorism throughout Europe" and that "when it cannot reach opponents abroad, it takes foreign citizens hostage inside Iran and imprisons them for political extortion." Pahlavi added, "These are crimes that the world is aware of. But there are many other crimes that are often overlooked, such as the regime's environmental destruction." He emphasized, "I consider environmental justice one of my compatriots' human rights. Decades of corruption and mismanagement have created environmental disasters that threaten the lives of millions." Pahlavi cited examples of environmental destruction in Iran, stating, "Lake Urmia, once the largest saline lake in the Middle East, has nearly disappeared. This issue has caused salt storms that devastate agricultural lands and lead to respiratory diseases. Rivers like Zayandeh Rud have dried up, leaving farmers without water. In Khuzestan, where water has flowed for centuries, water shortages have led to repeated protests, each of which has been severely suppressed." He added, "Air pollution in Tehran and Ahvaz is among the worst in the world. Pollution often reaches toxic levels, forcing schools and businesses to close. And those who dare to speak out, like environmental activists such as Kavous Seyed-Emami, are imprisoned or killed." According to him, "A country that sits on the second largest gas reserves in the world experiences nationwide power outages. Patients die in hospitals, businesses go bankrupt, and families remain in the dark" and that "even the most basic needs, including food, have become luxury items available only to a few with special privileges." Pahlavi added, "In a country that should be one of the richest in the world, a growing number of my compatriots cannot even buy bread, let alone meat" and that "these are all the results of a regime that plunders and pillages instead of governing." Pahlavi emphasized that "what has been created by the Islamic Republic can be resolved with its overthrow," stating, "Today we face a historic opportunity. The regime is weaker than ever. Its axis of resistance has collapsed, and its internal legitimacy has evaporated. Now is the time for action." He added, "Therefore, at the request of my compatriots, I step forward to lead this movement and transition. Not for myself, not for position or power, but to fulfill my duty as a patriot." Pahlavi outlined his strategy "for overthrowing this regime and rebuilding Iran" to include "mobilizing grassroots networks inside Iran, uniting exiled Iranians in the diaspora, pressuring G20 governments to apply maximum pressure on the regime and provide maximum support to the people of Iran, creating rifts within the regime and encouraging its collapse, and preparing for political stability, democratic elections, and economic development and reconstruction of Iran." He addressed the attendees at the Geneva Human Rights Conference, saying, "I bring a message from a captive nation to you. The people of Iran have suffered for over four decades, but their spirit remains unbreakable. They fight not only for themselves but for the values of freedom, justice, and human dignity." Pahlavi emphasized, "This is not just about the survival of our nation, but about international stability and global peace. Because as we witnessed last week from terrorist attacks to hostage-taking, the Islamic Republic continues its war against the free world despite its claims in Davos and its calls for a new deal. Until the regime is overthrown, these behaviors will not cease." Pahlavi noted his recent two-week travels in Europe and meetings with European officials "from all parties and factions," stating, "I know that Iranians and their democratic aspirations have many friends across Europe, and the number of these friends is increasing. But to those who try to silence us or block our way, I say: we do not wait for your green light. The people of Iran do not seek your pity. They seek your partnership. Our question is: will you stand with us?" Concurrently with Prince Reza Pahlavi's speech at the Geneva Human Rights Conference, a group of Iranians gathered in support of him in the Swiss city.