Daryoush Homayoun ( fa, داریوش همایون; 19282011) was an Iranian journalist, author, intellectual, and politician. He was the Minister of Information and Tourism in the cabinet of Jamshid Amouzegar, founder of the daily newspaper ''

Ayandegan ''Ayandegan'' ( fa, آیندگان lit. "The Future People") was one of the most influential and popular daily newspapers in Iran during Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's rule. It was the first morning daily paper of Iran. It had an independent and critica ...

'', and one-time high-ranking member of the

Rastakhiz ''Rastakhiz'' (Persian رستاخیز "resurrection") may refer to: * Rastakhiz F.C., an Iranian football team *Rastakhiz Party The Party of Resurrection of the Iranian Nation ( fa, حزب رستاخیز ملت ایران) or simply Rastakhiz ...

party. In exile he became one of the founders of the

Constitutionalist Party of Iran The Constitutionalist Party of Iran–Liberal Democrat ( fa, حزب مشروطه ايران–لیبرال دموکرات, ''Hezbé Mashruté Iran-Liberal Demokrat'') is an Iranian exiled Monarchism in Iran, monarchist political party. The party co ...

. He was famous for his analytical writings and largely impartial assessment of history. His outspoken manner, criticizing the Islamic Republic with harsh tones, but also directing his criticism at the

Pahlavi Pahlavi may refer to: Iranian royalty *Seven Parthian clans, ruling Parthian families during the Sasanian Empire *Pahlavi dynasty, the ruling house of Imperial State of Persia/Iran from 1925 until 1979 **Reza Shah, Reza Shah Pahlavi (1878–1944 ...

policies, earned him respect of many, while at the same time creating many enemies. He was one of the most influential Iranian opposition leaders in exile.

Youth

Homayoun was born in Tehran on 27 September 1928 and began his involvement in the political sphere at the age of fourteen. In his younger years he was a member of several Iranian parties, generally with nationalist views opposing the rise of leftist ideas and the influence of the Tudeh party, such as SUMKA. He began as a supporter of

Mohammad Mossadegh Mohammad Mosaddegh ( fa, محمد مصدق, ; 16 June 1882 – 5 March 1967) was an Iranian politician, author, and lawyer who served as the 35th Prime Minister of Iran from 1951 to 1953, after appointment by the 16th Majlis. He was a member of ...

but was imprisoned during Mossadegh's premiership.

Journalistic and political career

In the years following 1953, Homayoun finished his university studies, obtaining a doctorate in political science from the University of Tehran. He worked at the Iranian daily Ettelaat and later founded the highly successful daily newspaper ''

''. In the cabinet of Jamshid Amouzegar, he became the minister of information and tourism. Following the events leading up to the

Iranian Revolution The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynas ...

, he was arrested in the autumn of 1978, together with many other former officials whom the monarchy tried to use as scapegoats in order to prevent its own eventual downfall. He escaped prison on 12 February 1979, just after the revolution, and went into hiding. Fifteen months later, he left Iran through the border with Turkey and went to Paris.

Exile

In exile, Homayoun, was an influential political analyst, writer, and opposition leader. In the nineties he initiated and helped create the

, a political party seeking to establish a liberal democratic Iran.

Death

Daryoush Homayoun died on 28 January 2011 in Geneva,

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

at the age of 82.

External links

Official Website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Homayoun, Daryoush Government ministers of Iran Iranian monarchists 1928 births Constitutionalist Party of Iran politicians Rastakhiz Party politicians University of Tehran alumni 2011 deaths Iranian emigrants to Switzerland Exiles of the Iranian Revolution in Switzerland Iranian emigrants to France Exiles of the Iranian Revolution in France Pan-Iranist Party politicians Iran Novin Party politicians National Front (Iran) people Nation Party of Iran politicians SUMKA politicians Iranian nationalists 20th-century Iranian politicians 20th-century newspaper founders Iranian newspaper publishers (people)