Members of Parliament urge UK to back Iran’s democratic movement as regime weaponises war to silence dissent

Press Release: Members of Parliament urge UK to back Iran’s democratic movement as regime weaponises war to silence dissent

BCFIF-statement-MPs-urge-UK-to-back-Irans-democratic-movement-as-regime-weaponises-war-to-.

Download • 85KB

Meeting in UK Parliament calls for recognition of the NCRI’s Provisional Government, proscription of the IRGC, and immediate international accountability to end executions in Iran.

On Wednesday cross-party Members of Parliament, human rights lawyers, representatives of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), and members of various Anglo-Iranian associations discussed recent developments in Iran and urged the UK Government to support the Iranian people’s aspirations for freedom, democracy, and human rights.

Speakers highlighted that Iran stands at a historic crossroads and argued the UK should seize this moment to support those aspirations and end executions.

They stressed the regime is weaponising the war to tighten its grip on power, suppress dissent and target and seek to eliminate organised resistance. They called on the UK Government to engage with the NCRI’s Provisional Government as a legitimate democratic alternative, to proscribe the IRGC, and to prioritise accountability for human rights abuses.

Speakers also expressed their solidarity with the major rally planned in Paris on 20 June, describing it as an important opportunity to amplify the Iranian people’s call for change and to reinforce their message: “No to executions, yes to a democratic republic.”

NCRI President-elect for the transitional period Maryam Rajavi addressed the meeting in a video message and said:

“The prospect of change gives people hope. The regime is trying to prevent the collapse of repression and fear through executions, detentions, street checkpoints, and internet shutdowns.

“However, the people who have risen for freedom reject both the current religious tyranny, and the past puppet dictatorship.

“The Middle East and the Persian Gulf will never find peace and stability until this regime is overthrown.

“In the meantime, silence and inaction in the face of the continuous execution of political prisoners must end. This silence and inaction only benefit a regime that stays in power through the slaughter of Iran’s children.”

Co-chair of the British Committee for Iran Freedom (BCFIF), Bob Blackman CBE MP announced a statement endorsed by 30 British, European, and American religious leaders, in which they support the 20 June Paris rally, expected to draw over 100,000 people, and its objectives to protect religious minorities, and support establishing a democratic republic as outlined in Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan.

Bob Blackman CBE added:

“The same system that crushes protests and executes prisoners inside Iran also targets dissidents and activists across Europe, including here in the United Kingdom.

“That is why proscribing the IRGC is about more than counterterrorism. It is about ending passivity towards a regime that threatens British security while denying the democratic aspirations of its own people.

“The UK Government must stand firmly with the Iranian people, which means recognising and engaging with the Provisional Government announced by the NCRI and led by Madam Rajavi; and delivering on the promise to hold the regime accountable for terrorism and serious human rights abuses by securing international accountability mechanism.”

Toby Perkins MP said:

“The regime knows that once this conflict is over, it will have no other choice but to give in to the Iranian people’s democratic aspirations. Under these circumstances it cannot tolerate any organised resistance movement like the NCRI or Madam Rajavi’s inspirational leadership and democratic alternative.

“The UK must not allow the regime to divert attention from its brutal state repression and escalating political executions in Iran by focusing merely on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its impact for global economy.

“This is exactly what the regime wants because then it can enjoy impunity for its political executions and efforts to eliminate organised, popular resistance to prevent the next uprisings.”

Jim Shannon MP highlighted the recent student protests, political prisoners' ongoing campaign against executions, and expanding activities of Resistance Units and said:

“The evidence of the past forty-seven years shows that the clerical regime has … systematically waged war against the people. The objective is simple: keep society focused on survival rather than freedom.

“Yet despite this repression, the Iranian people continue to resist. This is not a coincidence because there exists an organised democratic alternative.”

Former MEP and Coordinator of the Campaign for Iran Change (CiC), Struan Stevenson said:

“Iran’s rulers understand the danger they face. They see growing resistance throughout the country. They recognise that a new generation has rejected both fear and submission. At the heart of this struggle stand the PMOI Resistance Units. Their sacrifice deserves recognition from every democratic nation.

“Yet amid this historic struggle, another danger has emerged. Recent scenes in Europe shocked many observers. Supporters of Reza Pahlavi openly displayed symbols associated with SAVAK, the Shah’s notorious secret police, in European cities, including here in London, where an Iranian rapper openly urged that PMOI supporters should be shot.

“The struggle unfolding in Iran concerns far more than changing faces at the top of the political system. It concerns the creation of a democratic republic founded upon universal values, contained within Mrs Maryam Rajavi’s renowned Ten Point Plan.”

Professor Sara Chandler KC (Hon), Secretary of the Human Rights Commission of the Federation of European Bar Associations, representing lawyers of Europe, added:

“We condemn the intensification of the executions since the 19 March. We will continue to monitor the arrests and imprisonment of lawyers for doing their job in representing people who protest against the regime.

“The freedom of the Iranian people depends on regime change, and only the Iranian people can achieve genuine regime change and a democratic future. Our support here in the UK and that of our government, is crucial now in this period of external and internal pressure upon the regime.”

Other speakers included: Rt Hon. Lord Hamilton of Epsom; Councillor Matthew Goodwin; Councillor Robert Ward; Malcolm Fowler, member of the Board of Advisors of the NGO, Justice. for the Victims of the 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI), former chair of the Law Society’s Criminal Law Committee and member of its Human Rights Committee; Naghmeh Rajabi, representative of the Association of Iranian Professionals; Neda Zabeti, representative of the Anglo-Iranian Youth Association; Nargis Rahmanfard and Ladan Alijani, from the Anglo-Iranian Community.

British Committee for Iran Freedom

10 June 2026