Dariush Homayun

Vida Moezzinia

 

Dariush Homayun, son of Nur-ollah was born in Tehran, 1928. He was educated in Firuz Bahram and Ibn Sina elementary, and Alborz and Darayi high Schools. Then he entered the service of ministry of Finance and followed his education to get Ph.D. degree at law from Tehran University. At the outset of the Second World War and occupation of Iran in 1941, he entered the political activities in semi military groups of radical nationalist young people. In one of group's military attacks to American camps to take grenades and mines, he was injured.

 

In 1949, he entered Jam-e-Jam artistic society and embarked on journalism by writing articles in Jam-e-jam journal. He was a member of Pan Iranism party, Iran Mellat Party, National Socialist party of Iranian workers. He was accused of attacking Tudeh Party places and was under arrest for three months and a half in 1952. Following to the pro-Shah demonstrations against Dr. Mossaddeq, again he was arrested.

 

In 1955, he was high inspector of ministry of finance. Meanwhile, he was the editor and translator of Ettelaat daily.

 

Acquaintance with Josef Godin, led his collaboration with the Americans and CIA, through orders from it, he entered the national Front.

 

His membership in Journalists' syndicate led to his removal from Ettelaat daily. He received one year scholarship from Harvard and left for the United States, 1964. He made several visits to Middle East, Far East, and American countries for CIA purposes. He married lieutenant Zahedi's daughter, Homa Zahedi which added to his influence in the imperial court.

 

He founded Ayandegan daily through secret supports from CIA. In Jamshid Amuzegar's cabinet, he was appointed minister of information and tourism and practiced severe censorship on the press. During this time, he published an article entitled "Iran and red and black colonialism" which insulted Imam Khomeini. He wrote this article under the pseudonym Ahmad Rashidi.

 

He was arrested and transferred to Jamshidieh garrison under military government of Pahlavi regime to divert the attention of people. On the eve of Islamic Revolution's success, when the crowds entered the garrisons, he took the opportunity and made his escape. He went out of country in 1980, after fifteen months secret life. Now he is living abroad and is active in political circles against Islamic Republic of Iran.