In a powerful continuation of its ongoing activism, the Iranian Academics Association has extended its influential #NoToExecution campaign to new cities across the United Kingdom. On June 28, 2025, the Association held its first-ever exhibition and petition drive in Bournemouth, adding to recent impactful events in Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, and London. These events have become focal points for Iranian expatriates and local communities alike to express solidarity with the Iranian people’s call for justice, freedom, and democratic change.
The campaign, themed “No War, No Appeasement – Change by the People and Organized Resistance,” struck a strong chord in Bournemouth. Residents, tourists, and members of the Iranian diaspora gathered to learn more about the human rights situation in Iran, with particular emphasis on the regime’s ongoing use of execution as a tool of repression. Many attendees signed a petition calling for global action to stop executions and to support the Iranian people’s democratic aspirations.
Volunteers from the Association presented a series of exhibitions featuring photographs, testimonies, and documentaries highlighting the brutality of the regime and the courage of political prisoners and dissidents. Through firsthand stories and well-curated displays, the campaign not only informed but also inspired many to take a stand.
One local resident commented, “I had no idea about the scale of executions in Iran until I saw this today. It’s heartbreaking but also motivating to see people standing up for what’s right.”
The response in Bournemouth mirrored the energy and support witnessed in other UK cities earlier this month. In each location, large crowds gathered around the exhibitions, engaging in meaningful dialogue with campaigners, signing petitions, and taking photos with banners reading “#NoToExecution” and “#FreeIran2025.” The visible enthusiasm of attendees, particularly younger Iranians and British allies, highlighted a growing international movement rejecting both military intervention and diplomatic appeasement in favor of grassroots-led change.
Crucially, the campaign underscored the emerging consensus around the “third option”: a solution driven by the Iranian people and supported by the organized resistance. This approach emphasizes democratic self-determination, advocating for a secular, democratic republic free from theocratic rule and foreign intervention. It is a vision championed by many exiled Iranians and rights groups who see internal mobilization, not external force or accommodation with the regime, as the key to lasting change.
The Bournemouth exhibition, like those before it, served as a platform not only for protest but also for hope. It gave voice to the voiceless and amplified the call for a #FreeIran that respects human rights, upholds the rule of law, and embraces democratic values.
As the Iranian Academics Association continues its nationwide campaign, the groundswell of support from British citizens and Iranian expatriates alike signals a deepening awareness and commitment to justice. With increasing public engagement and cross-community solidarity, the message is becoming louder and clearer: executions must end, and the Iranian people must be free to determine their own future.
