Iran’s exiled queen Farah Pahlavi has lauded popular protests against “forces of darkness” and decried “the harrowing savage crackdown” on rallies triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini. 

In a message released on Wednesday, she described as devastating the murder of the 22-year-old woman, who was fatally injured in custody of hijab police, as well as many other people who were killed during the Islamic Republic’s crackdown on the protests. 

Expressing her compassion and condolences to the bereaved families, she said, “Though heavyhearted, I take strength in seeing Iran back on its feet and rising up against ferocious forces.”

“Our youth yearn and deserve to live in the era in which they are born, and I proudly salute their bravery, sacrifice and struggle for freedom and equality," she said. 

She also called on “all factions of the security forces, the Army, the Pasdaran (Revolutionary Guard), the Basiji, the plainclothes agents and others... to refrain from shedding the blood of their young compatriots,” adding that “Light will prevail upon darkness.”

Last week, her son, exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi told Iran International in an exclusive interview that "The army is the guardian of the country and its borders, but today there is a situation where the internal enemy is shooting at the people... the military forces should be a shield for the defenseless people," calling on security forces to join the people and stand against the Islamic Republic’s repression machine.