It’s the end of July when we hear that the shah is dead. We are picnicking and swimming at Lago di Bracciano. It’s a large blue lake, not far from Rome, that’s surrounded by rolling hills, with a 15th-century, fortress-like castle atop one of them. A wonderful escape from Rome’s heat and humidity.
No one in our party is sad about the shah—except maybe Khanum G, who deeply despises Khomeini and his entourage of mullahs—and there is even mild pleasure that the controversial monarch is gone forever.
The shah’s passing seems to signify that the Islamic Republic might now have a lot more staying power, though. Knowing that they will be forced to wear headscarves and dress modestly, in hejab, when they return to Iran, Khanum G and F are not pleased. Extremists on Tehran streets will throw acid in their faces if they don’t comply, though. And men aren’t spared either. Razor blades were recently outlawed in Iran, so they too must look Islamic, with long, pious beards.
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