The son of Iran's deposed shah, Reza Pahlavi, has been forced to distance himself from the once-dreaded Savak secret police after some of his supporters glorified the agency. The Savak, trained by the US and Israel, was widely seen as an instrument of despotism that sustained his father's rule through torture and surveillance.
Pahlavi, who has not been in Iran for 48 years, has positioned himself as a potential leader for a democratic transition. However, former allies say his credentials have been undermined by what they describe as 'fascistic' supporters who have displayed Savak emblems at rallies. Pahlavi belatedly denounced these displays in a video message, calling the issue 'relatively urgent'.
Critics point to other signs of intolerance in Pahlavi's camp, including a banner at a Munich rally bearing the slogan 'one nation, one flag, one leader', evoking Nazi language. Supporters have also verbally abused journalists, including CNN's Christiane Amanpour, for referring to Pahlavi as a 'pretender to the throne'.
Pahlavi has been confrontational with journalists, cutting off a female reporter in Berlin and accusing the media of 'silencing' opponents of the Islamic regime. He has supported US and Israeli strikes against Iran and criticised European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for 'appeasement'.
