Asso Hassanzadeh’s Sharp Criticism of French Media’s Approach to Reza Pahlavi: "An Attempt to Replace One Tyrant with Another

OPINION

Political activist Asso Hassanzadeh, in a sharp reaction to the news coverage by French media, particularly the magazine Le Point, has accused these outlets of promoting non-democratic figures. He warned that repeating the "Neauphle-le-Château" experience by supporting specific factions could once again derail the path of democracy in Iran.

According to The Medes, referring to the provisions of the French Constitution regarding the prohibition of a return to monarchy, Hassanzadeh described the support of some French media outlets for the son of the former Shah of Iran as "astonishing" and akin to the performance of state media in dictatorial countries.
​The political activist claimed that, contrary to media portrayals, Reza Pahlavi does not have a broad popular base among protesters, and that Iranians are seeking a "truly democratic republic." He also attributed Pahlavi’s prominent media presence not to popularity, but to the financial resources remaining from the era prior to the 1979 revolution.
​In another part of his statement, Hassanzadeh strongly criticized the behavior of this movement's supporters, accusing them of "intolerance and physical confrontation" with opponents. Furthermore, referring to Reza Pahlavi's recent positions regarding the Kurdish regions, he likened them to "issuing a fatwa" and warned of the danger of suppressing minorities and the repetition of a cycle of violence following the potential fall of the current regime.