The city of Frankfurt in Germany is preparing for another day of demonstrations and traffic disruptions, with a large turnout expected from Iranians. This demonstration is due to the presence of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Iranian opposition politician, who is set to receive a peace prize on behalf of the people of Iran from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
Reza Pahlavi's Presence and Reactions
Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who ruled Iran from 1941 to 1979 under his autocratic regime, is expected to participate in a large demonstration at the Ostpark in Frankfurt and may speak there. For this event, barriers, loudspeaker towers, and a stage have been set up in the park, which is intended to be the final destination of the demonstrators' route.
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Demonstrations and Counter-Demonstrations
Alongside the demonstrations in support of Reza Pahlavi, counter-demonstrations are also expected. Some Iranian organizations and individuals who were imprisoned during his father's regime have expressed their criticisms of Pahlavi's presence. Additionally, several left-wing German parties have opposed him and signed a protest letter regarding this matter. In this letter, Joachim Rücker, former German ambassador to the United Nations, and Brigitte Zypries, former German Minister of Justice, criticized the awarding of this title to Reza Pahlavi.
Previously, Reza Pahlavi's last visit to Germany was in April, during which he criticized the German government and other European countries for their silence in the face of the violent repression by the Rouhani regime in Iran.
Frankfurt also witnessed a demonstration last week where mainly Generation Z youths peacefully demanded improvements in living conditions and education, but later that night, some individuals joined the demonstration with the intent to loot and vandalize.
Meanwhile, Boris Pistorius, the German Minister of Defense, expressed satisfaction with the situation in the country's armed forces and announced that there may not be a need to implement mandatory military service, which is generally not well-received.
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