In a powerful display of bipartisan unity, 560 UK parliamentarians from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords have issued a compelling declaration urging robust international action on Iran’s worsening human rights crisis. The February 2025 statement—signed by 230 MPs and 330 peers—calls for recognition of the Iranian people’s right to regime change and endorses the democratic vision presented by the Iranian Resistance.
The declaration outlines grave concerns over the human rights situation in Iran, citing at least 1,000 executions in 2024, including those of 34 women. It denounces the regime’s “Hijab and Chastity Law” as a tool of social control, designed not only to enforce compulsory veiling but to tighten authoritarian oversight over the Iranian population. In stark contrast, the Resistance’s platform promotes core democratic principles: “No to compulsory hijab, no to compulsory religion, and no to compulsory rule,” along with a strong “No to Executions” stance.
A particularly alarming issue highlighted is the death sentencing of nine political prisoners in late 2024. Despite severe crackdowns, widespread protests and the activities of Resistance Units continue to challenge the regime’s grip on power.
The parliamentarians argue that the Iranian regime’s survival hinges on its use of proxy militias and regional dominance. However, they observe that the diminishing power of Hezbollah and the fall of the Syrian dictatorship have left Iran’s ruling establishment increasingly vulnerable. They warn against Western appeasement and engagement with such regimes, labeling these strategies as both unethical and strategically flawed.
Central to the declaration is a call to stand with the Iranian people and their organized opposition. The document emphasizes the mass rejection of dictatorship—whether monarchical or theocratic—during the 2022 uprising and notes the nationwide boycott of the regime’s sham presidential election as a powerful sign of public defiance.
Given the regime’s suppression of all political avenues, the parliamentarians affirm the Iranian people’s right to seek regime change and support the Resistance Units’ struggle against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). They urge the UK and international community to officially designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
The statement champions the democratic blueprint outlined by the Iranian opposition, particularly the Ten-Point Plan presented by NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi. This plan, rooted in democratic values such as the separation of religion and state, gender equality, and the transfer of sovereignty to elected representatives, offers a clear roadmap for a free Iran and long-term regional stability.
Notably, the plan has garnered broad international support. In June 2024, over 4,000 global lawmakers and 100 former world leaders publicly endorsed it. UK lawmakers now call on governments worldwide to support this democratic vision and align their Iran policy with the aspirations of its people.