| Prince Alireza Pahlavi شاهزاده علی رضا پهلوی |
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|---|---|
| Prince of Iran | |
| Prince Ali-Reza | |
| Issue | |
| Princess Iryana Leila Pahlavi | |
| House | House of Pahlavi |
| Father | Mohammad Reza Pahlavi |
| Mother | Empress Farah Pahlavi |
| Born | 28 April 1966 Tehran, Iran |
| Died | 4 January 2011 (aged 44) Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Styles of Prince Ali-Reza of Iran |
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|---|---|
| Reference style | His Imperial Highness |
| Spoken style | Your Imperial Highness |
| Alternative style | Sir |
Prince Ali Reza Pahlavi (28 April 1966 – 4 January 2011, Persian: شاهزاده علی رضا پهلوی) was a member of the Pahlavi Imperial Family. He was the younger son of the former Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi [1] and his third wife Empress Farah and the grandchild of Reza Shah.[2] He was second in line of succession to the Iranian throne before the Iranian revolution.
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Prince Alireza Pahlavi was born on 28 April 1966.[3][4] He attended the Niavaran Palace primary school in Iran[5] but was forced to leave Iran and go to exile alongside his family after the Iranian revolution. He moved to the U.S. where he attended Saint David's School in New York City and Mt Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown, Massachusetts.[6] Pahlavi received a BA degree from Princeton University, a MA degree from Columbia University,[7] and was studying at Harvard University as a PhD student in ancient Iranian studies and philology (at the time of his death).[4][8]
Close confidantes and acquaintances describe Ali Reza Pahlavi as "gracious" and "unassuming," with a militaristic discipline reflective of his royal upbringing.[9][10] He was engaged in 2001 to Sarah Tabatabai, but it seems that the relationship ended some time afterwards.[11] He was once voted as one of the "world's most eligible princes. "[12]
On January 4, 2011, news outlets reported that Alireza Pahlavi had committed suicide in his South End Boston apartment after a long battle with depression. Boston police said that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police said officers responding to a 911 call found Pahlavi dead in his home shortly after 2 a.m.[13] The official statement on the website of his brother Prince Reza Pahlavi read:[14]
| “ | Like millions of young Iranians, he too was deeply disturbed by all the ills fallen upon his beloved homeland, as well as carrying the burden of losing a father and a sister in his young life. Although he struggled for years to overcome his sorrow, he finally succumbed, and during the early morning hours of the 4th of January 2011, in his Boston residence, took his own life, plunging his family and friends into great sorrow. | ” |
“It is with immense grief that we would like to inform our compatriots of the passing away of Prince Alireza Pahlavi”, the Pahlavi family website said. The family learned of the death Tuesday at 2:30 a.m., said spokesman Ahmad Oveyssi.
PRNewswire reports that the Pahlavi family stated:[15]
| “ | His Royal Highness Prince Ali Reza Pahlavi of Iran, son of the late Shah of Iran and Her Majesty Farah Pahlavi, passed away in the early hours of January 4th, in Boston. He is survived by his mother, Her Majesty Farah Pahlavi, his older brother Reza, his sister Farahnaz, and his half-sister Shahnaz....Prince Ali Reza was intelligent, sensitive, loyal, and dedicated to Iranian civilization, as well as to his family and friends. His counsel, wisdom and sense of humor will be profoundly missed and always cherished. | ” |
Mahnaz Afkhami told the BBC World Service that Pahlavi and his family being forced in to exile in 1979 was very "traumatic" for him and that he had experienced a "loss of identity" in exile.[16] Alireza's sister, Princess Leila Pahlavi also committed suicide in June 2001. Close family friends say that Alireza became very depressed after the death of his sister whom he was very close with.[17] He is survived by his mother, Farah Pahlavi, his older brother Reza, his sister Farahnaz, half-sister Shahnaz.[18] and daughter Iryana Leila Pahlavi.[19]
At a press conference in Boston his brother Reza said that Alireza Pahlavi had left his final wishes including his wish to be cremated and for his ashes to be scattered in the Caspian Sea.[20]
The sudden and unexpected death of Prince Alireza Pahlavi shocked and saddened Iranians around the world, mostly Iranians in exile. The news of his death spread quickly on social-networking sites and sparked different reactions.[21] The president of the National Iranian American Council, Trita Parsi said in a statement that "the Iranian-American community was deeply saddened" by Pahlavi's death.[13] The Washington Post reported that there has been an outpouring of public mourning by Iranian emigres following Pahlavi's death.[22]
On January 23, 2011 an official memorial was held in The Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland.[23] The memorial was attended by the Iranian Royal family as well as thousands of Iranians including Iranian celebrities and well known political and cultural figures.[24]
After Prince Alireza's suicide there were numerous reports and rumors that at the time of his death Alireza and his companion Raha Didevar were expecting a child, although this was not confirmed by the royal family. On August 5, 2011 a statement from the official website of Alireza's brother, Prince Reza Pahlavi, read:[19]
| “ | On behalf of my family, I wish to inform our compatriots & friends of the birth of Iryana Leila daughter of our beloved Alireza, on July 26th, 2011. We know you will join us, out of respect and love for our dearest Alireza, and allow the baby and her mother Ms. Raha Didevar to recover & thrive in peace and privacy. We continue to be touched and grateful for your love and heartfelt sympathies that have been extended to us, unconditionally, since our loss. | ” |
Iryana Leila has the surname Pahlavi and the title "princess".[25]
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Ali-Reza Pahlavi
Born: 28 April 1966 Died: 4 January 2011 |
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| Titles in pretence | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Reza Pahlavi |
— TITULAR — Prince of Iran 27 July 1981 – 4 January 2011 Reason for succession failure: Monarchy abolished in 1979 |
Succeeded by Patrick Ali Pahlavi |