The Friedrich Naumann Foundation has issued a firm and forceful response to 71 figures who have protested the handing over of the “Freedom of the People of Iran” prize to Prince Reza Pahlavi.

“We do not accept your criticism that [the] Reza Pahlavi [until the time when it would be possible to hand over the prize to elected representatives of the people of Iran] should be the recipient of the Freedom Prize on an interim basis.

At present, we do not know any other figure from Iran’s opposition camp who has a public presence and the level of support comparable to his.

His public statements should clearly not be taken as a continuation of his father’s policies [they say it doesn’t continue his father’s policies, as if the policies of Aryamehr Iran were a mistake]. [Reza] Pahlavi places himself, in Germany and throughout the world, before questions posed by the media.

It is also not possible to hold [Reza] Pahlavi responsible for the statements or reactions of his supporters on social media; just as one cannot hold him responsible for the slogans and placards of some of his supporters at demonstrations—things from which we naturally distance ourselves.”