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Context: Pro‑Pahlavi Aggression Towards Other Opposition Voices
The individuals in question are associated with a pro‑Pahlavi group that has repeatedly engaged in aggressive and abusive behaviour towards other Iranian opposition groups, both verbally and physically. Their actions undermine pluralistic democratic debate and create an atmosphere of intimidation that many Iranians, inside and outside the country, find deeply distressing.
Open Praise for SAVAK
SAVAK (Sazeman-e Ettela'at va Amniyat-e Keshvar) was the Shah's secret police, security and intelligence organisation, widely documented by historians and human rights organisations as being responsible for torture, arbitrary detention and executions of thousands of Iranians before the 1979 revolution.
Certain Iranian monarchist factions now speak without ambiguity about reinstating the Shah's former security apparatus, SAVAK. Across social media platforms, pro-Pahlavi accounts circulate posts and videos that openly call for its return, normalising the language of repression and signalling a troubling effort to rehabilitate one of the most feared institutions of the pre-1979 era within contemporary political discourse.
Incident Involving Christiane Amanpour
In a recent video, Niyak Ghorbani and Elaheh Jamali (also known as Lillimoo) can be seen verbally attacking and accusing journalist Christiane Amanpour simply for carrying out her professional duty and asking legitimate questions of Mr Pahlavi in Munich, including questions concerning the conduct of his supporters.
In another widely shared clip, the same individual, Ms Jamali, is heard chanting in Persian that members of SAVAK are returning – a reference to the Shah's former intelligence service, widely documented as being responsible for torture and executions of thousands of Iranians. This rhetoric is profoundly alarming for victims and survivors of past abuses and their families.
Threats of Collective Punishment & Violence
The video attributed to a pro-Pahlavi supporter contains explicit threats of collective punishment and violence, declaring that 'disaster' would be brought upon opponents' wives and children, from the youngest family members to the elderly, with 'no mercy' shown — including towards pregnant women — followed by the slogan 'Long live the Shah forever'.
Such rhetoric reflects the normalisation of extreme and dehumanising language within certain online spaces, where political allegiance is framed through threats of indiscriminate retaliation rather than democratic engagement. The invocation of collective violence against families is particularly alarming, as it mirrors patterns of intimidation historically associated with authoritarian systems rather than rights-based political discourse.
Profane, Sexist and Homophobic Rhetoric
In additional footage, Ms Jamali appears alongside Hamed Fard, a monarchist rapper who in the past produced songs for the Islamic Republic with antisemitic slogans such as 'death to Israel', but who now presents himself as anti‑regime and pro‑Pahlavi. In these recordings, both individuals use profane, sexist, homophobic and misogynistic language in public demonstrations.
Threats Against Ethnic and Religious Minorities
This footage shows pro-Pahlavi supporters marching in front of other Iranian groups and actively provoking Kurdish demonstrators while issuing threats of violence, including threats of death. The confrontational conduct and explicit intimidation captured in the video raise serious concerns about escalating hostility towards ethnic minority communities. Such behaviour undermines principles of peaceful assembly and pluralistic political engagement, replacing dialogue with coercive and exclusionary rhetoric.
Incitement to Religious Hatred and Violence
In this video, individuals are heard calling for religious symbols to be set on fire, chanting 'Death to Islam' and 'Long live the Shah', and threatening to burn mosques and copies of the Qur'an. Such statements constitute explicit incitement to religious hatred and the destruction of places of worship. The language reflects a form of collective hostility directed at a faith community rather than political critique, raising serious concerns about the normalisation of sectarian rhetoric within segments of online political activism.
Why This Matters
These are not isolated incidents. The group in question has been reported to the authorities and does not represent the breadth, diversity or democratic aspirations of the Iranian people. Many Iranians who have bravely opposed the Iranian regime, including victims of state violence and their families, find it deeply distressing to see individuals who engage in intimidation and aggression given airtime and legitimacy.
Questions for Broadcasters
When broadcasters repeatedly invite such figures, they risk undermining their own credibility and the safety and dignity of vulnerable communities. We therefore raise the following questions for any channel considering giving these individuals a platform:
- Have background checks been conducted on these individuals before offering them a platform?
- What criteria are used to determine which Iranian voices are invited to appear?
- Does a social media following alone confer sufficient legitimacy for national broadcast?
Alternative Democratic Voices
There are numerous highly educated, credible Iranian voices – including individuals who have directly suffered under the regime and who advocate for democratic principles – who could contribute meaningfully and responsibly to public debate. They categorically reject both the tactics and the rhetoric displayed by the pro‑Pahlavi supporters highlighted here, whose behaviour echoes the intimidation tactics long associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Context: Pro‑Pahlavi Aggression Toward Other Opposition Voices
The individuals in question are associated with a pro‑Pahlavi group that has repeatedly engaged in aggressive and abusive behaviour toward other Iranian opposition groups, both verbally and physically. Their actions undermine pluralistic democratic debate and create an atmosphere of intimidation that many Iranians, inside and outside the country, find deeply distressing.
Key Findings & Analysis
The reviewed footage demonstrates a pattern of extremist rhetoric and intimidation among certain pro-Pahlavi supporters. Documented statements include threats of collective punishment against families, calls to burn mosques and Qur’ans, chants of “Death to Islam”, and death threats directed at Kurdish demonstrators. Such language moves beyond political disagreement into explicit incitement and sectarian hostility.
When considered alongside verbal attacks on journalists, the use of misogynistic and homophobic language at public demonstrations, and open calls for the return of SAVAK, a consistent pattern emerges. The rhetoric reflects the normalisation of coercive and exclusionary narratives that are incompatible with pluralism, minority protection and democratic standards.