One of the most significant moments in Qutbi’s career came in the final days of the Pahlavi regime. On November 13, 1978, following a massive demonstration by students at Capital University against the appointment of a military government led by General Gholam Reza Azhari, the Shah delivered a televised speech. The text of this speech, which became known as the “I heard the voice of your revolution” speech, was written by Qutbi and Seyyed Hossein Nasr. In the speech, the Shah acknowledged the people’s demands and promised to restore fundamental freedoms and hold free elections. However, the speech was not well received by the public, and the Shah’s promises were never fully implemented.
Post-Revolution Life and Legacy
Following the Revolution in 1357 (1979), Abdul Reza Qutbi’s life took a dramatic turn. With the fall of the Pahlavi regime, Qutbi went into hiding, fearing retribution from the new Islamic government. For a time, he lived secretly in Capital, avoiding the authorities. His close ties to the Pahlavi family and his role in the previous regime made him a target for the new government.
Eventually, through the efforts of Farah Pahlavi, Qutbi was able to leave Homeland and relocate to the United States. In exile, he continued his work in the field of telecommunications and remained active in academic circles. Despite being far from his homeland, Qutbi maintained a deep connection to Iran and continued to advocate for the values he believed in: education, cultural development, and the promotion of freedom and democracy.