Restore constitutional monarchy to honor lost Iranian lives - opinion

The irony is that this slogan has been chanted in almost every city that joined the protests across Iran. This is what protesters shouted moments before they were met with bullets. Why is the world obsessed with refusing to talk about it?

One must look at the different factions of the political movement, from the media to the diaspora. Below, I outline the nature of the war the Iranian people are fighting.

The absolute silence of mainstream media and human rights activists was the first great shock to the Iranian people after they took to the streets. Many faced the hard truth that if X (formerly Twitter) did not exist, the world would not know of the scenes of bravery in Iran or the calls for the exiled Crown Prince.

The reason for this silence is that the people of Iran were not simply chanting to overthrow or reform the regime; they were chanting, as clearly as possible, the name of His Imperial Majesty Reza Pahlavi and calling for a return to the pre-1979 era.

At best, the global media and many activists overwhelmingly undermined the fight to overthrow the regime during the 2022 protests by framing it as a women’s rights movement operating within the existing system. However, in the current uprising, the people of Iran have learned to be clear with their slogans. For example, we no longer see

“Woman, Life, Freedom,” a shift that may shock international audiences. By doing so, protesters have left no room for activists, celebrities, or mainstream media to reduce their bravery to a feminist or DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) movement.

They chant Javid Shah, they raise the Lion and Sun flag to reclaim their stolen identity after 47 years, and by doing so, they want to be recognized as true patriots. In the current media landscape, dominated by a specific narrative, these aspirations are often unfairly dismissed as “far-right.”

Regardless of their intentions, Iranian political elites are failing the people. Given the media’s current approach, few outlets are interested in covering the reality on the ground.

Much of the diaspora refuses to reflect the actual will of Iranians or, in many cases, simply refuses to speak the words being chanted in the streets. They would rather push for what they like to see for Iran.

Many experts on Iran, both Iranian and non-Iranian, appear disconnected from the internal reality. During days of brutal internet shutdowns and the failure of Starlink units, the sentiment of the protesters is often forgotten by the outside world.

Instead, the focus is on so many details in Iran without pointing out the core and the basic will of Iranians.

One can raise awareness about the death tolls, the brutal violence, and the desperate need to save young Iranians like 26-year-old Erfan Soltani from execution, no one can truly help the Iranian people without naming their ultimate goal. We must acknowledge what these brave souls chant and whose portraits they carry.

The simple, obvious fact of the Iranian uprising is the call to restore a democratic constitutional monarchy, separate religion from the state, and return the exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to the throne.

The best way to honor the lives lost in Iran is to help establish exactly what they are sacrificing their lives for. Any other effort is a hollow gesture and nothing more than a post on X with a high number of likes and reposts.