C comme Carmen
J comme Javaan
After Shahryar's death, Azadeh had come to rely more than ever before on a group of active Constitutional Monarchists like herself who supported the Shah's eldest son, Reza, then based in Egypt, as their legitimate king. They called themselves, Javaan, or the Young Ones.
Javaan had gained some publicity for opposing the rule of the mullahs in Iran by taking to the streets of Paris. It had about 100 members, mostly young men and women aged between 16-30. Burning with a desire "to do something" they had a newsletter and even a logo with two Persian lions guarding a burning sun with the words Javaan written on it and a crown above it.
The group had in fact come into existence when its members had occupied the offices of Iran Air and the Maison d'Iran on the Champs-Elysees. As they grew bolder, the group had expanded their political activities to include hanging anti-Khomeini banners from the Eiffel tower and bridges and chaining themselves to the Statue de la Liberte in Paris, or protesting vigorously against the war between Iran and Iraq, among many other publicity stunts.
Sometimes these kids would march to the Trocadero singing the imperial anthem often being cheered by dissident Iranian exiles sitting in the nearby cafes. Soon the Paris Metro and other places was covered with posters and slogans in support of their young king, "Reza Shah II".
Although living in Europe, many of the people who were recruited by the Javaan Group had no experience in politics. Most were students and a few of them refugees with no proper papers, jobs or a real home. Many of them had parents living in Paris. Some had either fled the revolution or made the hard decision not to go back. Yet, they shared a common bond.
"We had very strong feelings about the horrible situation in Iran, and the young Shah," one Javaan activist recalled. "We felt that what we were doing was important for our compatriots' morale. By showing ourselves we proved that we cared about our country and were willing to fight!"
Always ready for a new adventure the Javaan Group fought running battles with suspected Khomeini sympathisers on the university campus or on the streets. In fact their fighting spirit was contagious. "We were often arrested by the French police," one of them recalled, "but we never doubted our cause. As a matter of fact, we were very well treated by the police."
As their numbers grew, these volunteers decided to get into shape by exercising in the Bois de Bologne. On weekends they visited the Flea Market looking for cheap uniforms, some dating back to World War II with bullet holes that needed sewing. Later, in order to keep their "commando" activities a secret they moved to the woods and forests in the outskirts of Paris.
They trained hard. Mr Chang, the Korean trainer of the Imperial Iranian Navy Commandos who had escaped with Prince Shahryar and later became Princess Ashraf's personal bodyguard, also volunteered to share his knowledge in martial arts with this enthusiastic group.
Later they set up a small camp in a garden belonging to a wealthy Iranian. Several tents were put up along with a flagpole. Journalists were invited to interview "Les Fideles du Shah" who expressed their wish to overthrow the mullahs and install a constitutional monarchy under Crown Prince Reza. Pictures published in Paris Match showed them wearing masks over their faces and posing in army fatigues and T-shirts with the words "Iran" written on their chests.
The spirit of camaraderie was genuine. "I truly respected and loved each one of those enthusiastic and patriotic kids," their leader recalled. "All of them were ready to give their lives for what they believed. Although we were naive and lacked experience we felt that we had a pact with each other, a beautiful feeling with lots of emotion, love of Iran and a spirit of sacrifice."
One of Princess Azadeh's key qualities was her courage and shrewd judgement in a game that was becoming increasingly dangerous. Her support for Javaan had always carried weight. In fact, on numerous occasions she had personally led from the front, standing on the Champs-Elysees with her private secretary distributing pamphlets condemning the atrocities in Iran, or even being arrested by the police alongside the Javaan demonstrators.
It is perhaps fair to say that it was Azadeh, then aged thirty, who took many of Javaan's members under her wings. In time she became the only person whom they could trust. Without her encouragement, support and inner fire, many of their operations would have come to nothing.
Each time one of these batcheha or kids landed in trouble she would send her lawyer to bail them out. Whenever a member found himself without proper shelter Princess Azadeh would offer her house as a temporary refuge until appropriate accommodation had been found for them in Paris. If they got injured she made sure they received proper medical attention.
On Fridays, when the post office was still open a group of volunteers (mostly old people who had worked in different ministries in Iran and half a dozen members of Javaan) would gather at the house on Villa Dupont. The atmosphere whilst always serious and tense was without protocol. Everybody admired the Princess. Sometimes she or her cook would prepare a meal for them which they ate sitting on the floor, surrounded by stacks of Iran Azad newspapers which they helped pack for eventual distribution among the Iranian diaspora.
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J comme Jeanne d'Arc
Azadeh's energy, devotion to her country and boldness had won her a new title: the Jeanne d'Arc of Iran
I comme Iran Azad
While in exile, the indefatigable princess had used her meagre funds to publish Iran Azad, an anti-Khomeini newsletter run by Behrouz Souresrafil, a talented journalist.
R comme Rouge
At court circles poisonous tongues had falsely nicknamed her the "Red Princess" because of her reputation as a defender of the people and contempt for ostentatious displays.
S comme Shahryar
When the monarchy fell in Iran, Azadeh had shared her grief with her younger brother, Shahryar, when he went into exile. For several months they had lived together in their mother's house. There were several pictures of him in the living room. But the main feature was his navy officer's cap that rested on the fireplace as a memento to his extraordinary life.
Prince Shahryar had been her idol. Brave, patriotic and dashing, he had seemed the ideal person to lead a major revolt in Iran. Trained at the Royal Navy College in Dartmouth, he had served in the Imperial Iranian Navy and risen to command the Hovercraft fleet in the South. In 1971 he had played an important role in occupying three islands in the Persian Gulf.
A brilliant officer, he was loved, respected, and admired by the men who served under him. He ate, slept and worked side by side with his men, be it in the heat of the Persian Gulf or at sea. Handsome in his navy uniform he shunned any privileges of his position. His devotion to the needy inhabitants of the coastal region where he was stationed was well known.
In his private life, Shahryar was just as passionate. In his youth he had fallen hopelessly in love with Maryam Francoise Eghbal, the daughter of Manouchehr Eghbal and his French wife.
Slim, beautiful and very tall, Maryam had been educated in Switzerland. Unfortunately, her ambitious father had married her off to Prince Mahmoud Reza, one of the Shah's younger brother. Shahryar was training somewhere in the Far East when he had heard the bad news. Devastated he threw himself into his career. When Maryam finally divorced her husband, Shahryar went to her rescue. They were married and from their happy union were born two sons.
T comme Téléphone
She was always on the phone, switching easily from Persian to several European languages.
source : http://www.iranian.com/CyrusKadivar/2003/October/Dupont/index.html
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