Behind the Headlines/July 31

Jamshid Chalangi:

In tonight’s program of Behind the Headlines:

Anti-government protest demonstrations and marches return to some major Iranian cities

Iran’s economy is further hit by more cases of corruptions by regime’s officials

Why the flight of capital still continues in Iran?

Has the regime lost its hope of surviving the current crisis?

More praise for Reza Shah as protestors shout his name in Isfahan

Our guests to discuss these topics tonight are Foad Pashaie and Mohammad Ali Toufighi.

Foad Pashaie:

The Iranian people have been shouting the names of Reza Shah and Mohammad Reza Shah during their anti-government demonstrations since last December and obviously this carries a certain danger to those who publicly praise these two kings.

As far as the regime is concerned, it can tolerate any slogan that might call for an Iranian republic, but it can hardly swallow the fact that people are so openly calling for the return of a modern monarchy to replace it.

Mohammad Ali Toufighi:

I think the demand for the return of monarchy to Iran is a genuine desire of a section of the Iranian society who are sick and tired of the ruling theocracy.

However, I would not say that this is the desire of the majority of the Iranians, even though I personally believe both Reza Shah and Mohammad Reza Shah carried out many good services for the country and I would wish their souls to rest in peace, but I would not support a monarchical system of governance for the future of Iran.

Foad Pashaie:

I agree with Mr. Toufighi, but at this moment of time anyone who dares express his or her support for the return of monarchy to Iran would face severe crackdown by the regime.

If you notice, you would not hear any other slogans by the protestors that calls for any other alternatives for Iran. Many of those who call the names of the Pahlavi kings have neither lived during their rule nor even seen them, but they can compare what Iran has been under their rule and what calamities the Islamic republic has brought onto the country.

Mohammad Ali Toufighi:

I do not regard the present ruling regime in Iran as a republic or even Islamic. Similarly, I do not think Reza Shah and Mohammad Reza Shah acted as constitutional monarchs when you compare their rule with other monarchies.