Princess Yasmine Pahlavi Celebrates Hooman Khalili’s 6th Mural in Downtown LA : Women have risen up in Iran to fight against the extremist dictatorship oppressing their-among other marginalized groups-rights. Woman, Life, Freedom, are the three words headlining the women-led revolution in Iran.
All around the world, Persians part of the Iranian diaspora are leading marches, demonstrations, rallies, and more, headlined with the words Woman, Life, Freedom. They celebrate the true Iran, a free country that was beginning to transform into a leading power in the Middle East pre-Islamic Republic.
For many Iranians, the royal Pahlavi family represents this unforgettable time period. Today, Prince Reza Pahlavi (the son of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, former Shah of Iran) and wife Princess Yasmine Pahlavi advocate for a free Iran by appearing at freedom rallies and raising awareness for the women-led Iranian revolution throughout the world.
Recently, the Pahlavis visited Israel, and saw mural artist Hooman Khalili’s Woman, Life, Freedom murals in Nazareth, Netanya, and Jerusalem.
Khalili, though a Christian himself, feels a strong connection to Israel because he knows Israelis present the only Middle Eastern support to Iranians fighting for their freedom. Iranian and Jewish people have shared friendship for centuries, since the time of Cyrus the Great, and Iranians, Jews, and Iranian-Jews feel that the past 50 years of Islamic extremism in Iran are no reason to halt the friendship between the two people.
The Pahlavis’ displayed a great support for the Jewish people during their trip to Israel, reaffirming the friendship among the two historical allies. They posed for a photo in front of Hooman’s mural in Netanya, featuring a woman blinded in one eye after fighting in protests against the Islamic regime. Though they did not speak in person, Hooman and the royal family exchanged greetings on a video call in front of the mural. And, Princess Yasmine was insistent on appearing at Hooman’s 6th mural unveiling- the first in America.
Hooman’s supporters- friends, family, Christians, Americans, Iranians, and Iranian-Jews alike gathered on June 2nd, 2023 in Downtown LA to pay homage to the freedom fighters in Iran and to the Iranian-Jewish friendship. Princess Yasmine arrived shortly before the unveiling, and delivered a speech praising Hooman and reminding the audience that the fight for freedom is not over at the subsequent reception.
The reception and luncheon was hosted by the Persian American Women’s Conference at the California Club in Downtown. Along with the Princess, Emily Schrader, Israeli journalist, and Lisa Daftari, Persian-Jewish journalist, delivered speeches at the reception emphasizing Iranian-Jewish unity, a friendship that will support Iran throughout the fight for freedom and beyond.