In Memory of Shahrokh Namiranian

Seonghwa

Mar 20

Written By Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Shahrokh Namiranian

Spouse: Manijeh Zahedi
Children: Siavash, Babak
Birthdate: February 24, 1959
Ascension: March 17, 2024
Seonghwa Ceremony: March 23, 2024

Shahrokh Namiranian was born into a Zoroastrian family in Tehran, Iran on February 24, 1959 and grew up with three brothers and many cousins.

His cousin, Iraj, told him of his English teacher who talked about a new idea about God and life that was interesting. Shahrokh was eager to meet Susan Fefferman but had to wait until the weekend. His first encounter in June of 1976 changed his life.

The ideas of the purpose of life, purpose of creation, and the four-position foundation presented by The Exposition of the Divine Principle were completely new for Shahrokh. He had never heard anything like it. He describes his experience in his own words:

“Oh God, this truth was what I needed in all of my life. Now the way is bright and the way is [lit] up by such truth. Wow, my heart was hurt and broken. To hear this truth and know that this was for my salvation, and for all people, it was the way to open God’s work on the world level.

“We can finally have True Parents in this world. That truth completely changed my life and my belief. I felt I could have new life. I could feel I was born again, finally new hope, a new way of thinking, and a new life. How wonderful and precious is this time for me and my future. A new vision had been given to me.”

Shahrokh joined the Unification movement and became a beloved brother to all. He had a kind and tender heart and grew in his relationship to God and the brothers and sisters. He faithfully attended many workshops and eventually learned to teach the Divine Principle.

The Islamic revolution that ousted the Shah (King) forced Susan to leave in January 1979. After Susan left, Shahrokh was jailed and tortured terribly for his new faith during the revolution. Other members were jailed too for a time. They lost all their possessions and the members were persecuted and watched continuously as the revolution unfolded. We were underground before, but now the movement was in danger for their lives.

He would have died in prison if an elderly man hadn’t fed him, cleaned him after the toilet, and nursed him after being tortured. His hands were too swollen to use to eat or hold anything. He had been tortured to drag out answers that he didn’t have and many other horrors were heaped upon this kind soul. Somehow, he never gave up because he kept thinking of the torture that Father Moon had to endure in communist prisons that nearly killed him. These memories comforted him and allowed him to continue. He wept many tears and suffered terrible indignities with no end in sight. He was eventually let go, broken and discarded.

In order to protect Shahrokh after he came out of prison, Manijeh Zahedi, a Muslim woman and the youngest child in the Zahedi clan, married him. He had to claim he was Muslim to marry her. They were blessed as a married couple afterwards. They eventually left everything behind and came to the US.

They have two sons, Siavash, 32, and Babak, 26. Siavash has a 10 month old daughter, Niloofar, who Shahrokh got to meet before he became ill. He lived in upstate New York near Essi, Maliheh, and Khosrow Zahedi and their families.

He had a stroke recently, followed by an operation that put him in a coma. He willed to give his organs to those who needed them and asked that his ashes be spread in nature. Shahrokh passed away on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

“He is my hero and the most kind-hearted Iranian brother who suffered much for Iran.” - Susan Fefferman