BOOK REVIEW: They Said They Wanted Revolution by Neda Toloui – Semnani – By George Somasundaram Source:Brisbane Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – July 2022 “They said they wanted Revolution” is a memoir by journalist Neda Toloui-Semnani as a tribute to her Iranian political activist parents. It is a deeply researched and compassionate portrait of her parents, Her father Faramarz moved to the US as a student in the 1960s while her mother Farahnaz also arrived during the same decade, sponsored by her family anchored in California. It was at a time when the Shah of Iran enjoyed cordial relations with US and Iranians had easy passage. Her parents met in Berkeley in 1969, fell in love and became activists, organising protests aimed at removing the Shah from power. It was the era of Free speech and anti-war campaigns. Majority of Iranian Student groups were generally anti-Shah with leftist leanings. ...

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