Press Release: For Immediate Release – London, 9th February.
The Iranian Academics Association, an independent network of Iranian scholars and civil society advocates committed to human rights, democratic values, and support for the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom, expresses its serious concern regarding reports that Mr. Reza Pahlavi has been invited to attend and speak at the Munich Security Conference.
The Munich Security Conference is a globally respected forum whose decisions carry significant political and symbolic weight. Extending an official platform to any political figure inevitably conveys legitimacy and recognition.
Inviting the son of Iran’s former authoritarian ruler—whose regime was responsible for systematic repression and grave human rights violations—particularly in the aftermath of the Iranian people’s nationwide uprising for freedom, dignity, and democracy, is widely perceived as a disregard for the will and suffering of the Iranian people. For many within Iranian civil society, this act represents a clear affront to those who have risked—and continue to risk—their lives in pursuit of democratic change.
Mr. Pahlavi is neither democratically elected nor representative of the Iranian people. He has not clearly and unequivocally condemned the crimes and abuses committed under his family’s rule, nor has he demonstrated a genuine commitment to democratic accountability and popular sovereignty.
At a time when Iranians are demanding an end to all forms of hereditary and unaccountable power, granting a prestigious international platform to such a figure sends a deeply troubling political message and risks undermining the credibility and neutrality of the Conference.
The Iranian Academics Association therefore calls on the organizers of the Munich Security Conference to urgently reconsider this invitation and to align their decisions with the principles of democracy, human rights, and respect for the aspirations of the Iranian people.
Contact:
Iranian Academics Association
General MSC Contact (Official & Public)
· Email: office@securityconference.org
· Press Email: press@securityconference.org
· Address (Munich): Karolinenplatz 3, 80333 Munich
· Phone: +49 89 3797 9490
· Website: https://securityconference.org/
Chairman and Team
In addition to the main conference in February, the Munich Security Conference team organizes different events and manages the preparation of various publications.
(Vice-)Chairs
Prof. Dr. h.c. Wolfgang Ischinger
Chairman of the MSC
President, MSC Foundation Council · Profile · X Account @ischinger
Jens Stoltenberg
Incoming Chair · Profile
· @jensstoltenberg
Dr. Benedikt Franke
Vice-Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Executive Director, MSC Foundation · Profile · X Account @FrankeBenedikt
Board of Directors
Andreas Block
Director of Communications · Profile
Prof. Dr. Tobias Bunde
Director of Research & Policy
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Jamel Flitti
Director of Diplomatic Initiatives · Profile
Marcel Lewicki
Director of Partnerships & Development
Deputy Secretary General, MSC Foundation · Profile · X Account
Ulrike Strauss
Chief Operating Officer & Head of Strategic Projects
Secretary General, MSC Foundation
Lisa Marie Ullrich
Director of Programs & Engagement
Member of the Executive Board, MSC Foundation · Profile · X Account
Sara-Sumie Yang
Chief Financial Officer / Chief Human Resources Officer
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