Politics taz
Peace Prize for the Iranian People: False Intolerance on the Left
Because of threats of an attack, Pahlavi's appearance was in jeopardy. Then the Frankfurt police protected the event. That was right. more...
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T he fact that the Iranian opposition politician Reza Pahlavi accepted the Freedom Prize from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation on behalf of the Iranian people was met with controversial reactions. The prince's name is so polarizing that one has to ask whether he was really the right one to represent the Iranian people in St. Paul's Church at the weekend.
The son of the Shah, who was overthrown in 1979, symbolizes the time before the Islamic Revolution like no other, which is why he divides Iranians. While some romanticize this time and point to civil rights and progress, others condemn its authoritarianism and its proximity to the USA. When looking for alternatives, however, it quickly becomes apparent that there are none. In the divided opposition, even figures like the imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi are polarizing.
Pahlavi is, after all, the opposition politician with the strongest support base. According to police, at least 25,000 people gathered to see the prince and show solidarity with him. What speaks for him: Pahlavi is a democrat. For decades he has been calling for a secular democracy with free elections in Iran; he rejects the absolute monarchy model.
The taz is an independent, left-wing and opinionated daily newspaper. We have been arguing in our comments, essays and debate texts since the taz was founded in 1979. We often cannot and do not want to agree on an opinion. That's why you'll find some completely opposing positions here - all part of the very broad left-wing spectrum of opinions.
It is therefore strange that the Frankfurt Left, the Greens and the SPD protested against the award ceremony. The Left even requested that the Naumann Foundation's rental agreement for the Paulskirche be withdrawn. The strange justification was that Pahlavi was not “democratically legitimate,” as if there were already free elections in Iran.
On Saturday morning it was still unclear whether Pahlavi would be allowed to appear in public. The Frankfurt police feared attacks from the Islamic Republic's milieu, but ultimately decided to protect Pahlavi's appearance. That was the right decision. Germany must not allow any foreign power to dictate who is allowed to appear publicly here and who is not.