Yasmin Pahlavi’s Positions Regarding Red and Black Reaction

Yasmin Pahlavi, by publishing a message, discussed her positions regarding red and black reaction.

“Red and black reaction” in Iran’s political sphere dates back more than 50 years. When Mohammad Reza Shah (the Shah of Iran) used it to describe a coalition of communist and Islamist forces that would later become the driving force and main pillar of the 1979 revolution. Similarly, at the global level, the systematic solidarity of Western-opposing leftist forces (remnants of Cold War communism such as Cuba and North Korea, or 21st century socialism such as Venezuela) with Islamists has made this expression a contemporary reality.

“Black reaction” refers to a group or political ideology, whether within or outside the Islamic Republic system, that combines religion and government and violates the principles of secularism. A concept that the Iranian people have well understood and felt throughout the past 43 years under a theocratic and Islamist government.

Since the start of nationwide protests to date, the Iranian people through revolutionary slogans against the Islamic Republic system have announced their abhorrence of this system and seek the overthrow of the regime and Iran’s freedom. Slogans such as “Death to the three corrupts, mullah, leftist, Mujahedin” and “Long live the Shah,” protests that have attracted the attention of various countries and parties. Freedom-loving people are tired of the Islamic Republic system and seek a monarchical government. Positions that have provoked reactions from Islamists, mullahs, leftists, and others.

Regarding the above matters, Yasmin Pahlavi, by publishing a story on her Instagram page, discussed her positions on red and black reaction. By posting a photo showing the slogan “Death to the three corrupts, mullah, leftist, Mujahedin and long live the Shah,” she wrote: “I felt the need to state my position on this photo and slogan once and for all. 1- I have my own opinions and my husband has his own opinions. It is good that the media understand this distinction and learn that if they have questions about my opinion, they should ask me, not my husband.

2- The Marxists and Islamists to whom the late Shah gave the designation of red and black reaction were the primary factors of the 1979 upheaval and consequently the architects of Iran and Iranians’ current misery.

3- The mullahs, after coming to power, sidelined their rivals and became the dominant reaction. The suppressed reaction, that is the leftists and Mujahedin, were however not better than the mullahs.

4- Wherever the leftists came to power, they brought nothing but death, destruction, poverty, and misery. From communist Soviet Union to North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela.

5- I strongly oppose the ideology of the left, Mujahedin, and mullah and consider it harmful for Iran’s present and future, but by no means do I mean or intend that the proponents of these ideologies should be killed.