Protests and support greet Reza Pahlavi's heavily secured visit to Dutch parliament

Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's last shah, visited the Dutch parliament for a discussion with the Foreign Affairs Committee as part of a roundtable with opposition representatives and experts. His visit drew about eighty supporters from across Europe, who gathered outside the parliament, some holding banners and flags. Inside, supporters faced strict security checks, with security personnel confiscating items like pins and flags, a new protocol implemented due to threats against Pahlavi.

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We are here to support our shah.

Pahlavi has positioned himself as an opposition leader in exile, particularly since the protests that began in January 2026, presenting himself as a unifying figure against the current Iranian regime. However, his candidacy is controversial. Sixteen Iranian organizations, representing minorities such as Balochi, Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen, along with left-wing Iranians in the Netherlands, sent a letter to the parliament stating that the name Pahlavi evokes memories of an authoritarian state, not freedom, for many in Iran.

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For many people in Iran, the name Pahlavi does not evoke a memory of freedom, but of an authoritarian state.

Cameron Khansarinia, a spokesperson for Reza Pahlavi, emphasized that Pahlavi is advocating for a democratic process where people can choose their own future, not for himself. The parliamentary discussion followed a somewhat disorganized procedure, with requests for Pahlavi's earlier reception by some VVD members and a proposal to move the entire roundtable to the same Monday. Pahlavi's controversial status is partly due to his not explicitly distancing himself from SAVAK, his father's secret police known for imprisoning and torturing political opponents. Pahlavi maintains he should be judged on his own actions, not his father's.

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The Shah is not advocating for himself, but for a democratic process in which people can choose their own future.