A coalition of Irish parliamentarians from both Seanad Éireann and Dáil Éireann has issued a powerful joint statement calling for international support of the Iranian people’s struggle for democracy. Citing an alarming escalation in human rights violations, the lawmakers advocate for recognition of the Iranian opposition’s democratic platform as a viable path toward freedom and stability in Iran.
The statement paints a grim picture of life under the current regime, revealing that more than 1,000 people were executed in Iran in 2024 alone. The parliamentarians sharply criticize the regime’s “Hijab and Chastity Law,” which they describe as a tool of oppression used to enforce compulsory hijab, silence women protesters, and thwart any potential uprisings. They further condemn the regime’s intensifying crackdown, including the late-2024 sentencing of nine political prisoners to death—an act seen as a clear sign of Tehran’s fear of growing resistance.
A Regime in Decline, a Global Responsibility
The declaration emphasizes the Iranian regime’s weakened position following the collapse of Hezbollah’s regional influence and the downfall of the Syrian dictatorship. Irish lawmakers warn that any policy of appeasement only strengthens the regime’s authoritarian grip, jeopardizes democratic values, and fuels Tehran’s nuclear and terrorist ambitions.
Reflecting on the 2022 nationwide uprising, the statement recalls the Iranian people’s clear rejection of both monarchic and theocratic rule in favor of a democratic republic. With all political avenues in Iran effectively shut down, the Irish signatories call on the global community to affirm the Iranian people’s right to pursue regime change.
Backing a Democratic Vision for Iran
The statement throws firm support behind the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and its President-elect Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, which outlines a secular, democratic alternative. The platform advocates for gender equality, religious freedom, the abolition of the death penalty, and the separation of religion and state. Rallying cries such as “No to compulsory hijab,” “No to compulsory religion,” and “No to dictatorship” reflect the aspirations of millions of Iranians.
This democratic vision has received widespread international endorsement. In June 2024, over 4,000 parliamentarians and 100 former heads of state and government publicly backed the NCRI’s platform. The Irish lawmakers now urge all democratic nations to join them in endorsing this credible and hopeful path forward.