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Why did he do it?
06-Jan-2011
I’ve been closely monitoring the news about the tragic suicide of Alireza Pahlavi and the reactions of the internet community, and I finally felt compelled to write this.
The death of a young man in the prime of his life is sad, but here’s why I think some may not feel the same. In academics, we learn early on that every phenomenon must be studied in the context in which it happens; otherwise we fail to see the full picture. Alireza Pahlavi wasn’t just any 44 year old committing suicide; he was the son of the much controversial former Shah of Iran, and naturally this attachment stirs much sympathy along with abhorrence. To expect individuals to treat this as just any other suicide is trivializing it as this very little known member of the Pahlavis symbolizes much more for the average Iranian. To the Monarchic sympathetics his suicide is a continuation of the perceived injustice that the Pahlavis endured according to them. For some others he is the son of a dictator who wronged the country and fled as soon as things got tough and lived a life of luxury and indulgence (the son not the father) and as such they afford him no sympathy.
I however observe a third group emerging; I call them the nostalgic group. They’re not necessarily monarchists, in fact many of them don’t even consider it, yet they’re Pahlavi apologetics. They sympathize with the previous regime, blame the revolution and its aftermath for this tragic event and paradoxically yearn for the good old days. I put forward one question to this group: Would you be feeling the same had the Iranian revolution achieved all (or even some) that it promised? My guess is the answer is no.
I think this is where the nostalgia comes in, I mean had it not been for the current state of affairs in Iran and the tragic mess we’re in we wouldn’t be feeling as nostalgic as to become apologetics for a corrupt dictatorship that existed 32 years ago and is, in my view, greatly responsible for the turn of events. What I’m trying to say is that I think the sudden burst of attention and sympathy to this event should not be confused with renewed interest in the old regime, it is simply selective remembering of the good, feeling nostalgic for those days were we had a shred of dignity left in the international community and many more we feel is lost masked in grief for this young man and expressed in our public display of sorrow.
Attacking anyone and everyone who doesn’t share our stance and accusing them of lack of regard for human life might just be our way of justifying the guilt we feel for sympathizing with the Pahlavis, or it could just be intolerance. I don’t know! But I do know that I wish as a nation were more critically inclined practiced basing conclusions on facts instead of propaganda. The press release by the Pahlavi family simply stated the suicide was motivated by the death of his father (which occurred some 30 years ago) and his sister (10 years ago), and the aftermath of the revolution! Am I the only one seeing how strategically this is worded to serve the Pahlavis political agenda? I’m not alleging that he was left unaffected by all this as I have no idea whether he was or wasn’t and am not willing to speculate, but doesn’t this statement leave much more to be said?
What’s stunning is that many are taking this politically charged statement at face value without questioning its motives and blaming the revolution for his death! Many suffered much greater pains after the revolution, and none had his privileges to ease their pain, but they didn’t kill themselves. We have to wonder what else drives a man of his social and financial status to end his life. My guess is there is a lot more to this than we are led to believe. TO me that press release was dishonest and politically motivated to mask the truth and promote their cause.
My friend Paeizeh raised a very good point: where is Farah in all this? 2 of your 4 children commit suicide, what does it say about you? This and many more questions come to mind should we begin interrogating this event critically.
Human life, or any life for that matter, is sacred to me, this is not about disregard for life. It is about shedding some light on the complex psyche of our society. It’s about offering a critical analysis; it’s about getting to know ourselves better.
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While I think we all need
by Bavafa on Sat Jan 08, 2011 09:45 AM PSTWhile I think we all need to put politics a side out of respect for his family during such tragic time, I can't help myself agreeing with TheMrs
It is really sad that they choose such poor statement which naturally can draw much unpleasant yet logical and fair comments.
Mehrdad
Mehdi
by Rea on Sat Jan 08, 2011 08:27 AM PSTI wouldn't say that "Depression is a made up disease." But I would agree that a suicide is a common side effect of the so called anti-depressors.
"moshkel doota shod"
by comrade on Sat Jan 08, 2011 04:47 AM PSTDon't you see it? They are having a party, and some of us are not welcome there. All these Pahlavists needed was a sensational tragic kicker to become first-pagers for a short while and hope for sympathy vote, so to speak.
Now, we know that this rotten family is not only corrupt but also clinically unfit.
The thing with Rahma... started here.
Never increase, beyond what is necessary, the number of entities required to explain anything.
Comrade, it is pre-emptive for what?
by Anahid Hojjati on Sat Jan 08, 2011 04:28 AM PSTNow "moshkel doota shod". If comment of Rahmanian was a problem, now yours is not that clear either, comrade. Could you explain more?
"this comment of yours, what does it mean?"
by comrade on Sat Jan 08, 2011 04:24 AM PSTIt's pre-emptive!!
Never increase, beyond what is necessary, the number of entities required to explain anything.
To G. Rahmanian, this comment of yours, what does it mean?
by Anahid Hojjati on Sat Jan 08, 2011 04:20 AM PSTTo G. Rahmanian, this comment of yours, what does it mean? Apparently you felt so strong about your comment that you spammed it into several blogs just like those guys who spam their ads about boot and whatever. I see that you spammed your comment into some blogs related to Alireza' s suicide so what do you mean or you are just trying to provoke?
Tudeh Traitors!
by G. Rahmanian on Sat Jan 08, 2011 02:50 AM PSTیا رب سبب خیانت توده زچیست؟•این خا‌ئن بی وطن چرا، بهر چه زیست؟•چون می شود او از این غم ما خوشحال،•در شادیمان برای او جایی نیست!•
Did he do it as a Protest?
by SOS-FREE-IRAN on Fri Jan 07, 2011 04:02 PM PSTWhy did he do it? Why did a patriotic young man who was a hero and
inspiration to Iranians and whose dream like all Iranians was to see a
free secular Iran committ suicide? Is it possible that he was forced to
take his own life in protest? Is it possible that he was so
psychologically tormented by the human rights violations and atrocities
he saw in Islamic Republic and the unjust and unfounded accusations
and bullying against his father, the King, that he took his own life as
other young Iranians in Iran who have been tortured, imprisoned, and
blocked from education and work? Prince Ali Reza's suicide note clearly
expresses these feelings.
What factors could have contributed to his premature death? Is it
possible that his life was prematurely snuffed out by the very forces
that are wiping Iran's ancient history off the textbooks? Is Harvard
University complicit in this death? Did Harvard grant him a PhD? If
not, why not?
Why was his PhD delayed for 20 years? Why was he discouraged from his
PhD studies at Harvard? Is it because he was the son of a man who has
been falsely vilified for 20 years by Mr. Khomeini and his supporters
(liberal left, communists, radical muslims, and mossadegh supporters)?
Why was he not allowed to become a professor of Iranian Studies while
his fellow colleague at Columbia, Mr. Dabashi, the son of rich
billionaire mullahs, is now full professor and director at Columbia
University? Is it because Harvard, Columbia, and Stanford are
monopolized by a group of Jewish/Islamic PseudoScholars who hand out
PhDs and positions to their own? Mr. Dabashi has the gall to suggest
that perhaps Prince Ali Reza Pahlavi committed suicide because he knew
he had no place in Iran. What a bunch of bull crap! This
socialist-islamic Khomeini's supporter is a professor who jets around
the world to give lectures while our beloved Prince was isolated,
cornered, threatened, bullied, harrassed, and barred. Every patriotic
Iranian has a place in Iran today and in the future. Prince Ali Reza
Pahlavi knew he would be a part of the future of Iran. Now he will be a
part of our future in spirit.
Is it possible we are witnessing the human costs of the blood drenched
brutal, callous, operations and policy of British Empire and its blood
sucking vampires, Mr. Khomeini and his successors to maintain British
oil interests in middle east?
The Crown Prince has dutifully accepted the Boston Police's report
and the suicide note that the young Prince left behind. Prince Ali
Reza's death is a wake up call to the Iranian community overseas and in
Iran to mobilize to save Iran and make it a habitable place for all
Iranians.
God Bless and protect the remaining Pahlavi Family and what is left of
Iran. We need to unite as Iranians to restore our H.R.H. Reza Pahlavi
as King of Iran. His father refused to abdicate. What does this mean?
It means the Pahlavi's are still the legitimate rulers of Iran.
Long Live Pahlavi. Long Live a Secular, Democratic Constitutional Monarchy in our beloved Iran.
Suicide is VERY common side effect of psych drugs
by Mehdi on Fri Jan 07, 2011 01:28 AM PSTIn fact any psychiatric "treatment" directlyraises the potential for suicide. This is a proven fact that psychiatrists,with their infinitely wealthy lobby have been able to hide or have ignored byauthorities. Most people on psych drugs commit suicide or become violent -school shootings are mostly done by kids on anti-depressants. In all cases thepsychiatrist is right there to blame it on "lack of psychiatriccare." But in reality it is the psychiatric care that increases theincidence of suicide many times over! I bet you any money Alireza was on somesort of psychiatric "treatment/medication."
Please note that "Depression" is a made up"disease." Scientifically speaking, being sad or extra sad for long periods of time has NEVER been proven to be a disease. It is a made up disease that makes billions of dollars for the big pharma. with absolutely no scientific basis whatsoever.
Why did he do it? or Did He? Was it assisted suicide?
by SOS-FREE-IRAN on Thu Jan 06, 2011 08:35 PM PSTWhy did he do it? Why did a patriotic young man who was a hero and
inspiration to Iranians and whose dream was to see a free Iran
committ suicide? or did he? Is it possible that he was forced to commit
suicide? Is it possible that his killers gave him a few minutes to
write a suicide note blaming it on depression and other things?
Is it possible that his life was prematurely snuffed out by the very
forces that are wiping Iran's ancient history off the textbooks? Is
Harvard University complicit in this murder? Did Harvard grant him a
PhD? If not, why not?
Why was his PhD delayed for 20 years? Why was he not allowed to
become a professor of Iranian Studies while his fellow colleague at
Columbia, Mr. Dabashi, the son of rich mullahs, is now full professor
and director at Columbia University? Is it because Harvard, Columbia,
and Stanford are monopolized by a group of Jewish/Islamic
PseudoScholars? Mr. Dabashi has the gall to suggest that perhaps Prince
Ali Reza Pahlavi committed suicide because he knew he had no place in
Iran. What a bunch of bull crap! This socialist-islamic Khomeini's
supporter is a professor who jets around the world to give lectures
while our beloved Prince was cornered, threatened, harrassed whereever
he went. Every patriotic Iranian has a place in Iran today and in the
future. Prince Ali Reza Pahlavi knew he would be a part of the future
of Iran. Now he will be a part of our future in spirit.
Is it possible that because Iranians are beginning to actively ask
for restoration of the Pahlavi King to Iran, the British Funded Islamic
Republic of Iran is unleashing its assasins to knock off all potential
future leaders of a secular and free Iran? Is it possible we are
witnessing the brutal, callous, operation of British Empire and its
blood sucking vampires? Has the Boston Police ruled out homicide?
God Bless and protect the remaining Pahlavi Family and what is left
of Iran. We need to unite as Iranians to restore our H.R.H. Reza
Pahlavi as King of Iran. His father refused to abdicate. What does this
mean? It means the Pahlavi's are still the legitimate rulers of Iran.
Long Live Pahlavi. Long Live a Secular, Democratic Constitutional Monarchy in our beloved Iran.
Khanom Boyshahri
by Souri on Thu Jan 06, 2011 06:32 PM PST1) Yes I've heard Mr imbecile Moshiri's speech! And I've answered to that one too.
2) Contrary to you, No, I am not sure that Alireza was "clinically depressed"! One can become depressed for a short period of the time because of the death of a loved one. This may have been the case for Alireza, but he has been cured fast. Shortly after Leila's tragedy he was engaged to a beautiful educated young woman. Do you see this as a true sign of "clinically depression"?
3) Alireza seemed being a very nice young man, full of energy and love for life! A man who ride in Porsche (whose Lamborghini made envying the actor, Nicolas Cage and made him buying it) who does Scuba diving and motorcycle, who enroll at the university for the high studies, is far from being a "clinically depressed" man!
4) You asked me 3/4 questions about him. I am asking one quesitn from you: Why you didn't ask all those questions, while he was still alive? Why?
Why Alireza didn't have a fb or website? Because he wanted to stay away from politics. But RP and FD have their own website. I swear if you had asked those questions from Farah Diba, she would have replied to you. At least, she (and RP) would have known that it was important for you and the others!!! Why you folk, have never raised this question before?
5) Farahnaz Pahlavi is out of politics and all social manifestations now, but she is still alive!!! Go ask her and her family, if you have any question about her. Don't wait her suicide, for coming and asking me all those questions to which I have no answers. BTW, ask also about Leila. Did she commit suicide also because they didn't let her playing the game of politics, she too?
So you folk, think that you have resolved the complex question of Alireza's suicide with your naive analysis and now you blame RP and FD for the death of their loved ones?
Good for you. How clever of you. Congratulation!
The good behavior of the people, warms our heart and make us thankful..... And the bad ones, just make us to recognize and appreciate the good ones!
"Don't forget that he was the son of a king!"
by BoyShahri on Thu Jan 06, 2011 05:47 PM PSTSouri,
It's not unnatural for nostalgic Iranians to idealize the royal family, and want to idolize them as a symbol of virtue and hope and a possible source of leadership in a future movement to liberate Iran. Heck, I used to do it all the time. But like TheMrs suggested, it might help for us to take a step back and look at the situation objectively for a moment.
You asked if TheMrs had read the statement of Dr Daniel Shannon about Alireza. Now I ask you, have you heard the statement of Dr Bahram Moshiri on the same topic? I think you raised some valid points, like the fact that he faced the pressure that comes with a big-name family, that he loved Iran and received (or almost received) a PhD in Iranian Studies from a prestigious university. So I wonder why you're not asking the questions that naturally come to mind...
Such as, why is there not a single website, media interview, political statement, or press appearance dedicated to "Alireza" Pahlavi? Why has he never appeared alongside his brother in an interview, or video broadcast? Surely someone as educated and Iran-loving as him should have made some kind of political statement over the past 30 years, right?
Isn't it possible that the royal family put a tremendous amount of pressure on Alireza to "not" draw publicity toward himself, so that his older brother Reza may remain a "figurehead" in the opposition movement? I'm sure Alireza Pahlavi was clinically depressed. I'm sure the death of his family members affected him. I'm sure he loved Iran very much, and was sad to see its deterioration. But friend, SO ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER YOUNG IRANIAN MEN who were displaced after the revolution. An educated, successful, and wealthy adult does not put a shotgun in their mouth and pull the trigger unless they have tremendously low self-esteem or find themselves under a lot of pressure.
Reza and Farah and their delusional aristocratic aficionados put so much pressure on this poor lad, that he could no longer breathe. "God forbid," he start drawing attention towards himself and maybe divide the following that his older brother Reza has. Alireza's had to live in the shadow of the "crowned prince" Reza Pahlavi since he was 13 years old. Well, what the hell do you think that'll do to a young boy's self-esteem? And any psychologist will tell you that 99% of all suicides can be traced back to low self-esteem.
Every family is entitled to privacy, especially after the death of a family member. But Reza Pahlavi has chosen to live in the public eye, and so I don't find it inconsiderate for us to ask to see Alireza's suicide note. The Pahlavi’s should’ve tried to politically benefit from the young and educated Alireza when he was alive, not now that he’s gone. Thousands of people have offered their condolences to the royal family—those people deserve to be told the truth.
جی جی خان پارتی بازی موقوف!
SouriThu Jan 06, 2011 03:53 PM PST
هروقت این دوستات هستند که کامنت منو فلاگ می‌کنن، فوری دیلیتش
میکنی. من هیچ حرف بدی به سرگرد نزده بودم که دیلیتش کردی. خود سرگرد هیچ
مسئله نداشت با کامنت من، و گرنه خیلی سریع جواب میداد. آخه اینم شد کار؟
The good behavior of the people, warms our heart and make us thankful..... And the bad ones, just make us to recognize and appreciate the good ones!
Souri I can see where
by TheMrs on Thu Jan 06, 2011 12:38 PM PSTSouri
I can see where you're coming from but I am not part of the close circle of Alireaza P's family and friends and so I have a more objective view.
TheMrs
by Souri on Thu Jan 06, 2011 09:18 AM PSTI almost agree with the last part of your statement, especially when you said: this is not the time to discuss this matter.
But I disagree with the first part of your words:
"Suicide in the lap of luxury isn’t the same as young lives lost during the war or tortured and killed in prisons"
The pain is the same! Actually nobody is able to measure the depth of a feeling. We are not God ! We can't allow ourselves to decide how a person (or a family) must respond to their own misery and how much they might be affected by their own dilemma and sorrow.
Being rich or poor, has nothing to do with the depth of our feeling. Why everybody think that the rich people are indifferent and insensitive by definition? They may be unable to understand the miseries of the poverty, but that doesn't mean they are cold blood people, devoid of any feeling or sensitivity !
Yes, I still do believe that Alireza was deeply affected by the disastrous situation both on a personal level (regarding his family situation) and on a general level, as a true patriot. Why not?
Don't forget that he was the son of a king! He was educated on patriotism since his very early age. Those people have a completely different educational system than us, the ordinary people.
Have you read the statement of Dr Daniel Shannon, about Alireza when he was only 8 year old?
Let's try to be just open to all the people from any and all social categories. Let's not judge the people based on a very superficial image that we get on them, from the media.
Yes, I agree with you that RP should not try to speculate on the death of his sister and brother. Yes you are right, but ,,,,,,,,,my dear friends, have you ever heard the word Politics? What does it sound to you?
The good behavior of the people, warms our heart and make us thankful..... And the bad ones, just make us to recognize and appreciate the good ones!
Very sad
by TheMrs on Thu Jan 06, 2011 07:24 AM PSTThe Pahlavi statement was in VERY poor taste. “Once again, we are joined with mothers, father and relatives of so many victims of these dark times for our country,"How are they joined? Suicide in the lap of luxury isn’t the same as young lives lost during the war or tortured and killed in prisons. It’s not a reflection of the dark times for our country either. “Like millions of young Iranians, he too was deeply disturbed by all the ills fallen upon his beloved homeland” So what? Was this disturbance the cause of his suicide? Come on, he wasn’t even a political activist. This statement cheapens the pain political activists are going through in Iran right now, in jails, in courts etc.
This young man had a traumatic childhood followed by many family tragedies. It’s no wonder he was depressed. Suicide is always tragic. The statement should've been personal and dignified. I'm glad he didn't leave any kids behind.
This is not the right time to discuss this but this second suicide is AGAIN a reminder that these people are unfit to rule.
Bias analysis!
by Souri on Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:55 AM PSTThis is the most bias and ugly analysis that I have read about the matter, in the last couple of days. If you want to blame the Pahlavi and especially Farah Diba for the suicide of her children, why don't you come clean and say it clearly?
Why are you putting words in the mouth of the people? This thinks this and that thinks that?
The truth is, you are completely inhuman and the death of the people leaves you completely indifferent. As long as it can fit your mean and purpose, it's okay for you!
You are no different than the Pahlavi, who (according to yourself) are trying to speculate on the death of a young life!
Shame on you!
The good behavior of the people, warms our heart and make us thankful..... And the bad ones, just make us to recognize and appreciate the good ones!