Rally Outside White House Demands Iranian Government Transparency on Reza Shah’s Remains

The National Union for Democracy in Iran organized a rally in front of the White House to emphasize transparency and proper treatment regarding the remains of Reza Shah.

The rally took place Sunday afternoon on the 9th of Ordibehesht in Lafayette Park opposite the White House, following reports about the discovery of Reza Shah’s mummified remains and the possibility of its burial.

Several participants in the rally expressed appreciation to the Persian Service of Voice of America for President Trump’s efforts to support human rights in Iran.

One of the participants also expressed hope to Voice of America that President Trump would decide to withdraw from the JCPOA on the 22nd of Ordibehesht.

According to him, with America’s withdrawal from the JCPOA, the country’s economic situation has worsened and the conditions for the Islamic Republic government will become critical.

This rally was held one day after a member of Tehran’s City Council announced that the presumed mummified remains of Reza Shah have been buried.

Reza Pahlavi previously issued a message noting that the discovered remains very likely belong to Reza Shah, asking all Iranians to act as true guardians of his legacy through social media and peaceful nationwide gatherings to honor his memory and help hold the government accountable and bring this matter to a proper and transparent conclusion.

While official authorities had refrained from confirming the matter or the fate of the discovered body, Thursday night security forces prevented a group of people from gathering in the Shah Abdolazim shrine area in Shahr-e Rey to pay respects to Reza Shah Pahlavi’s remains.

Early last week, while excavating near the Abdolazim shrine in Rey city south of Tehran, workers discovered a mummified body after breaking through a concrete section. Soon rumors emerged that the body belonged to Reza Shah Pahlavi, and several officials implicitly confirmed the matter. Among them, Hassan Khalilabadi, a member of Tehran’s City Council and head of the council’s cultural heritage committee, said there is a possibility that the body belonged to Reza Shah. He also stated that regardless of who the remains belong to, they have heritage value and must be preserved.

Following these statements, some state media outlets attempted to deny the matter.

Reza Shah Pahlavi died in 1945 in exile in Johannesburg, South Africa, but was later transferred to Tehran and buried in the city of Rey.

Source: Voice of America