Final press release rally on Thursday 11 January in London opposite Downing street Echoes of "Death to the Oppressor; Whether Shah or Leader" in London; Large-Scale Iranian Protest Outside Downing St

LONDON – January 11, 2026 – Today, hundreds of free Iranians and members of various Anglo-Iranian communities gathered in a spirited demonstration outside Downing Street to declare their firm solidarity with the nationwide uprising in Iran, which has reached a peak on its 14th day. The rally, organized by the Association of Iranian Academics in the UK and the Association of Anglo-Iranian Women, saw a significant turnout of youth, legal experts, and former political prisoners demanding the overthrow of the ruling dictatorship and the establishment of a democratic republic.

Resolute Rejection of Past and Present Dictatorships

A defining feature of today’s demonstration was the clear distinction participants drew between the current theocracy and the former monarchy. Repeating the central slogans heard across Iran, such as “Death to the oppressor, whether the Shah or the Leader” and “No to monarchy, no to leadership; equality and fraternity,” protesters emphasized that the Iranian people are not seeking a return to the past. Laila Jazayeri, director of the Association of Anglo-Iranian Women, told the media: “The people of Iran are fed up with both monarchical and clerical dictatorships and demand a pluralistic, secular, and non-nuclear republic”. Furthermore, Diana Nammi, a women's rights activist, warned that replacing one dictator with another would not make Iran a safe place.

Warning of a "Digital Blackout" and the Risk of Massacre

Protesters highlighted harrowing reports from inside Iran, where the uprising has expanded to 173 cities. They noted that the regime has engineered a “digital blackout,” plunging internet access to a mere 5%. Citing a message released yesterday by Bob Blackman MP, Chairman of the British Committee for Iran Freedom, demonstrators warned that this internet shutdown is a sinister precursor to a planned massacre. They also strongly condemned the brutal killing of protesters in areas like Fardis, Karaj, and the martyrdom of at least 54 individuals, including seven teenagers aged 14 to 17.

Exposing Security Traps and Attempts to Hijack the Uprising

The protest served as a platform to expose attempts by remnants of the former monarchy to hijack the uprising’s achievements. Based on warning messages from both inside and outside Iran, protesters emphasized that suspicious calls to “shout from home at 8:00 PM” are a security trap designed to empty the streets and hand over protesters' addresses to the IRGC and intelligence agents. They chanted, “Monarchy, Velayat; one hundred years of crime,” to show that the roots of today’s problems lie in a century of tyranny.

Call for Decisive Action by the British Government

The Iranians present at the Prime Minister’s office urged the UK government to move beyond statements of condemnation and take practical steps. Their primary demands included:

1. Proscribing the IRGC in its entirety as a terrorist organization as an act of self-defense for international security.

2. Recognizing the legitimate right of the Iranian people and Resistance Units to stand against repressive forces.

3. Supporting the NCRI and Maryam Rajavi’s 10-point plan for the future of Iran.

The demonstration, which received extensive coverage from international media outlets including Reuters, AFP, The Guardian, and ITV, once again demonstrated that the democratic alternative enjoys organized support among both the Iranian diaspora and protesters within the country.