Shah’s niece vows to restore monarchy

Press, 26 December 1979, Page 6

Shah’s niece vows to restore monarchy

NZPA-Reuter Washington; I The niece of the deposed . Shah of Iran has said she 1 plans to mount a counter-, revolutionary movement toj' restore the monarch in Iran, i the “Washington Post'’ has reported. Princess Azzadeh Shafiq, said she planned to put a! younger generation of the; imperial familV in power, in place of her uncie. toppled | by Ayatollah Ruholiah I Khomeiny last February. ! Princess Azzadeh. who is; 128, told the “Post": ‘Tm ; starting here just like every-!' one started. I’m going to do I exactly what Khomeiny did. [The coundown starts today I. . . Were going to take a- ! plane and fly back just like:' !he did. Why not?”

From his home in exile outside Paris. Ayatollah Khomeiny directed the revolution that overthrew the Shah. I The “Post" said that alter months of keeping a low profile, there had been a spate of activity by mem-i ibers of the Shah’s family.! (much of it provoked by the I assassination of Princess Azzadeh’s brother, Shahrvar ! Shafiq, in Paris earlier this, month. The princess told the "Post" she did not think the I Shah could be returned to power, but that the principle of the monarchy must be re-, stored “at all costs.” to provide a symbol of national unity.

She said that the former Shah would not be ca-t aside, but would be an .adviser to the younger generation of the monarchy The "Post’ said the princess insisted she wanted power through political rather than military action She said military action should come only to consolidate power after political action had restored the monarchy. She said Ayatollah Khomeiny would be placed on trial in “a public square" and asked whetiier he had "betrayed his religion. his people and his country.” She said the Iran an people would then decide whether he could return to exile or remain in Iran.