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Reza Pahlavi receives Freedom Prize at Frankfurt ceremony
Reza Pahlavi received a Freedom Prize in Frankfurt, Germany, at a ceremony attended by about 18,000 supporters, according to police.
Pahlavi is the son of Iran’s last shah, who was ousted in the 1979 revolution, after which Iran became an Islamic republic.
The prize was awarded by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and was presented at St Paul’s Church, which hosted Germany’s first elected parliament in 1848-1849.
Pahlavi said he was holding the prize only as a trustee until Iran has a democratically elected government, and that he would then return it to the Iranian people.
Critics say he cannot represent all Iranians, citing his support for Israel and his failure, in their view, to distance himself from his father’s autocratic rule; about 200 prisoners in Iran also protested the award in a letter.
Rights groups say a January crackdown killed thousands, though one account described the toll as tens of thousands.
Pahlavi says he would leave Iran’s future system to a referendum rather than seek to restore the monarchy.
Reza Pahlavi received the Freedom Prize at a ceremony at St Paul’s Church in Frankfurt on Nov 7.
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation awarded the prize, which was described as being for the Iranian people.
Police estimated that about 18,000 people rallied in support of Pahlavi in Frankfurt.
Pahlavi said he accepted the prize only temporarily, as a trustee until a democratically elected government takes power in Iran.
Critics challenged his legitimacy and objected to the award, citing his support for Israel and his connection to his father’s rule.
- Who
- Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last shah, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi.
- What
- He received the Freedom Prize, awarded by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
- When
- Nov 7. The articles were published in 2026.
- Where
- St Paul’s Church in Frankfurt, Germany.
- Why
- The prize was awarded to the Iranian people. Pahlavi said he was accepting it as a trustee until a democratically elected government takes power in Iran.
Pahlavi's supporters
Critics of the award
Legitimacy
Pahlavi's supporters
Supporters rallied in Frankfurt to show support for Pahlavi.
Critics of the award
The Frankfurt branches of the SPD and Greens said he could not be considered a legitimate representative of the Iranian people.
His father's rule
Pahlavi's supporters
Pahlavi said he would hold the prize only temporarily, until a democratically elected government takes power.
Critics of the award
Critics accused him of failing to distance himself from his father’s autocratic rule; a letter signed by about 200 prisoners called him a symbol of a “bygone dictatorship.
The ceremony
Pahlavi's supporters
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation presented the prize at St Paul’s Church.
Critics of the award
Die Linke’s Frankfurt branch said the church should not host the event under city statutes on political gatherings at places of worship.
Anti-government protests broke out in Iran, according to the Straits Times.
Iranian security forces cracked down on protests; rights groups said the crackdown killed people.
Pahlavi received the Freedom Prize at St Paul’s Church in Frankfurt.
- Recipient
- Reza Pahlavi
- Award
- Freedom Prize
- Awarding body
- Friedrich Naumann Foundation
- Ceremony venue
- St Paul’s Church, Frankfurt
- Rally estimate
- About 18,000 people
- Protest letter
- About 200 prisoners held in Iran signed a letter opposing the award
2 sources
What people are saying
is a country not waiting to be taught democracy, this is a country being prevented from practicing it.
A people ready to die for the right to vote is willing to exercise the right to vote,
I hold it only temporarily,
One day I will place it in the hands of its rightful owners, not on foreign soil but in the capital, Tehran.