By Darius KADIVAR
Former
First Ladies pay tribute to Iran's Mohamed Reza Shah Pahlavi and
Egypt's Anwar El Sadat in
Cairo
©FarahPahlavi.org &
JehanSadat.com
"We
can lose a lot of things, we can lose our country, our loved ones, our
positions, our belongings, but we can never lose hope. One day, I am sure, this
nightmare will be over." -Farah
Pahlavi, Shahbanou of Iran to
L.A. Times
correspondent Borzou
Daragahi
Cairo, July
26th 2007
Iran's Royal
Family, Friends and supporters of the Constitutional Monarchy gathered in
Cairo for the
annual Homage to the former and Last Shah of Iran, Mohamed Reza Shah Pahlavi and
the 25 century Old Institution of the Monarchy which he represented during his
38 years of reign. The occasion gathered several hundred Iranians who had made
the trip to Cairo and was also an opportunity to
pay tribute to Egypt's Former President Anwar El
Sadat in presence of his widow Mrs. Jehan Sadat. The ties between
Iran's Royal family in exile
and Egypt's former first Lady
have strengthened since the demise of the two leading leaders of the Middle East in the 1970's. Paradoxically both Men who
contributed to a rare stability in the region and were respectively indirect (
For The Shah) and direct ( For Sadat) Architects of the Camp David Peace Accords
of 1977 (that earned the Egyptian Raïsse the Nobel Peace Prize) were to pay
dearly for their "un-holy" alliances with the West and Israel. The Shah of Iran was overthrown by the
Islamic Revolution and abandoned by his allies, except by his true Egyptian
friend and ally who considered him as his Brother. He was to succumb to cancer
while in Egypt in July 1980. President Sadat
had followed in the shah's footsteps, making peace with Israel and realigning his country with the
U.S. rather than the
Soviet Union.
Solitude and Enduring Love
©FarahPahlavi.org
He was
shot to death in 1981 by Islamic militants during a military parade. The two
widow's of these two historical figures have maintained a rare friendship and
solidarity over the years of mourning and grief for their mutual husbands. They
have displayed a silent dignity and pride that has drawn admiration including
from their political foes or opponents ( See Photo : Michael
Gorbatchev former Soviet Leader with Farah Pahlavi and Jehan Sadat at Bochum
Challenge for the Future Conference held last month).
Farah Pahlavi and Jehan Sadat In Front of the Shah's
Tomb
Al Rifai Mosque, Cairo
©Farahpahlavi.org
This
Wednesday, the two Former First Ladies of Iran and Egypt, led the procession to Egypt's Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier, the massive triangular monument where Sadat is buried, and
placed flowers at his grave. After paying their tribute they led the procession
to the Al Rifai Mosque where the late Shah is buried for a similar ceremony that
was followed by a reunion with all those present who made the trip to Cairo.
In Front of President Sadat's Tomb Memorial, Cairo
©FarahPahlavi.org
Authors
Notes:
Official
Website of Farah
Pahlavi
Official
Website of Jehan
Sadat
Recommended
Reading:
See Full
Report in LA
Times of this Event
Remembering Princess Leila
Pahlavi by Darius KADIVAR
Photo
Credits FarahPahlavi.org
About
the Author:
Darius KADIVAR is a Freelance Journalist, Film Historian, and Media
Consultant
... Payvand News - 7/27/07 ...
