After 1979 Islamic revolution, the flight of its former central bank governor, Khodadad Farmanfarmaian, was steeped in intrigue. Under house arrest, his escape over the Turkish border in January 1980 was orchestrated by Kurds — yet there were some nervous moments. He was waved across the border despite one Kurd telling the guards that Farmanfarmaian was a drug dealer and the stamp on the picture on his false passport having been drawn in pencil.