Letzte Kaiserin des Iran, die 1979 aus dem Land floh. Wo ist sie jetzt?

Origin and Youth Farah Diba was born in Tehran in 1938 and came from a wealthy, but not royal, family. Her grandfather was a diplomat, her father a military officer. After his early death, the family fell into financial difficulties. She attended French schools in Tehran and later studied architecture at the École Spéciale d'Architecture in Paris. Meeting the Shah In 1959, she met the Iranian Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, at a reception in Paris. The Shah was 40 years old, Farah 21. After two failed marriages, the monarch was looking for a new wife to father a male heir to the throne. Farah fit this ideal: young, beautiful, educated, and from a good family. They married in December 1959. Their wedding made headlines around the world. Life as Queen and Empress In 1960, her son Reza was born – the longed-for heir to the throne. Three more children followed. After the birth of her first son, Farah increasingly took on representative roles and supported educational, health, and cultural projects. She became the patron of 24 organizations and was known for her elegance and social commitment – ​​Western media called her the "Eastern Jackie Kennedy." In 1967, the Shah crowned himself "King of Kings" and appointed Farah as Empress and potential Regent – ​​an unusual role for a woman in an Islamic monarchy. She supported, among other things, the establishment of the Tehran Museum of Modern Art, which now houses a collection of international importance. The Revolution and Exile In 1971, the imperial family held a lavish celebration to mark the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire – which met with displeasure among the people. Discontent grew until the Islamic Revolution broke out in 1979. The royal family was forced to flee. After years of fleeing, the Shah died of cancer in Egypt in 1980. Farah became a widow and had to build a new life in exile. She settled in the United States but continued to be respected at royal events as a former queen. Troubles of Fate In 2001, her youngest daughter, Leila, died of a drug overdose in London. In 2011, her son, Ali Reza, committed suicide in Boston. Farah expressed her deep sadness but tried to remain strong for the rest of her family and for other suffering mothers in Iran. Today Farah Pahlavi is now 85 years old and lives in a luxurious apartment in the United States, close to her son, Reza Pahlavi, and his children. She travels to Egypt every year to visit her husband's grave. In interviews and on social media, she regularly speaks about the situation in Iran and is particularly committed to women's rights. She hopes that her homeland will one day be free; even if she doesn't live to see that moment, she believes her grandchildren might.