Religious leaders from across the UK including in England, Wales and Scotland call to hold Iran accountable for human rights abuses
Over 50 bishops in the UK joined the Rt Rev. and Rt. Hon. Dr. Rowan Williams to condemn the human rights abuses, particularly the plight of religious minorities in Iran. “Today, we announce the initiative by Dr. Rowan Williams and supported by more than 50 bishops in UK along with 78 US church leaders which highlights the plight of the Iranian people and the religious minorities in Iran, particularly the Christians, calling on the international community to act to defend their rights in face of government harassment and persecution”, the Rt Rev. John Pritchard, former Bishop of Oxford, one of the signatories, said.
Petition in defence of religious minorities in Iran
It is time to pay attention to plight of Iranians, in particular religious minorities
Throughout the years, the entire Iranian population has suffered at the hands of the ruling dictatorship, and religious minorities have faced particular harassment and persecution.
Rabbi Moshe Levin, Vice President of the Conference of European Rabbis
Rabbi Moshe Levin, Vice President of the Conference of European Rabbis, Special Assistant to the Rabbi of France.
This ten-point plan of Maryam Rajavi is important for the Iranian people, for all the women and men that compose these people. We can’t speak of the Jewish people without talking about the Jewish community in Iran.
Every day I am saddened by seeing people killed, beaten, and imprisoned. Religion must bring people together and unify society, not divide people.
Peace requires hard work. This is what Maryam Rajavi and her organization are doing. They want to create a new model that helps people to live in prosperity and peace with each other.
550+ MPs and Peers Demand IRGC Proscription to Signal End of Business as Usual
The UK is urged to abandon its “policy of appeasement” and officially designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, according to warnings from government ministers and lawmakers. A substantial group of more than 550 MPs and Peers have united to demand this move, signaling to Tehran that “business as usual is over.”
The IRGC faces serious accusations, including attempts to carry out assassinations on British soil, funding and training terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and supporting the Houthis’ piracy activities in the Red Sea. Critics argue that the IRGC’s actions through its proxy groups are a major threat to regional and global peace and security.
This Senedd:
1. Notes the ties between Wales and the Iranian people.
2. Acknowledges the Welsh Government’s commitment to Wales being a globally responsible nation, under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
3. Stands in solidarity with the Iranian people.
4. Condemns the human rights abuses committed in Iran.
5. Condemns the indiscriminate execution and imprisonment in Iran, especially of women and ethnic minorities.
6. Commends the human rights work of David Afrash and the Iranian Academics Society in raising awareness of the brutality of the Iranian regime.
7. Calls upon the UK Government to support those facing execution and unjust imprisonment in Iran.
Mebyon Kernow Endorses the Work of the Iranian Academics Society and Passes Resolution on Human Rights Abuses in Iran
At the Annual Conference of Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall, held on Saturday, 1 November, party members unanimously adopted a formal resolution condemning ongoing human rights violations in Iran and expressing clear support for the work of the Iranian Academics Society and the human rights advocacy of David Afrash.
In its resolution, Mebyon Kernow:
- Condemns the widespread human rights abuses committed in Iran;
- Condemns the indiscriminate executions and unlawful imprisonments, particularly targeting women and ethnic minorities;
- Commends the human rights efforts of David Afrash and the Iranian Academics Society for raising international awareness about the brutality of the Iranian regime;
- Calls upon the UK Government to take stronger and more decisive action to support individuals facing execution or unjust imprisonment in Iran.
This resolution was formally confirmed in an official communication from Cllr Dick Cole, Leader of Mebyon Kernow, who emphasized the importance of sustained international pressure to defend human rights and support victims of repression in Iran.
The Iranian Academics Society has played an active role in recent years through research initiatives, public-awareness campaigns, and engagement with civil and political organisations across Europe. Mebyon Kernow’s endorsement represents a significant step in strengthening international solidarity with victims of state violence in Iran and supporting Iranian human rights advocates working abroad.
Rt Hon. David Jones
Rt Hon. David Jones
Rt Hon. David Jones MP, President of the British Committee for Iran Freedom (BCFIF):
“With the number of executions in Iran reaching unprecedented levels in the last month, the regime is showing with its own actions that it has not been able to crush the uprising despite its claim and months of crackdown.
“What I take from [Mrs Rajavi’s] remarks is that the people of Iran have made up their mind and will continue the protests and to stand up to the repressive security forces and the IRGC until they have established a free and democratic republic.
“As we reiterate in our statement, it is for the Iranian people to decide their future and they have a real, viable democratic alternative in the shape of NCRI and Mrs Rajavi’s 10-point plan and we reiterate the consensus of the House of Commons that the UK Government and international partners should proscribe the IRGC in its entirety.”
Bob Blackman MP:
Bob Blackman MP:
Co-President of the International Committee of Parliamentarians for a Democratic Iran (ICPDI),
“Our statement makes a clear case for a firm policy on Iran. This has moved our Government’s position as it has on several occasions stated its intention of holding the regime to account.
“The threat from the regime stressed the need for our Government to get serious about countering the regime’s state terrorism by proscribing the IRGC and closing the diplomatic missions and Embassy of the regime in London, until Tehran verifiably abandons its state terrorism.”
“Our Government must demand a snap back of all UN sanctions and the reinstatement of the six previous UN Security Council resolutions against the regime”, Bob Blackman MP said with regards to Tehran’s nuclear escalation.
Steve McCabe MP, Co-president of the BCFIF:
“Now is not the time for any kind of appeasement towards the mullahs. As many of my colleagues have said, now is the time to ban the IRGC and to break diplomatic relations with this evil regime. Now is the time to make it clear that we are no longer in the business of dealing with them.
“As far as I am concerned, the people of Iran want democracy and freedom. That is what I am about, that is what I believe you are about. That is why I believe we should all work together to try to deliver based on the ideas contained in your Ten-point plan.”
Rt Hon John Spellar MP stressed that he and colleagues will press the Government to proscribe the IRGC:
“The Iranian regime is a threat to world peace and is a fascist regime.”
Baroness Verma:
“We know the decisive role women and girls of Iran should and will play in Iran’s future and their equal participation is a requirement if the country is to enjoy democracy and freedom.
“In contrast to the misogynist rulers in Iran who view women and girls as a serious threat to their grip on power, the Iranian Resistance movement (NCRI) sees women and girls as an asset and the guarantors for a free, democratic and secular republic.”
Baroness O’Loan DBE MRIA:
“The Iranian people deserve our unreserved support as they pursue their democratic aspirations and that is why I am so pleased to be part of this very important worldwide initiative. Your Ten-point plan, Mrs Rajavi sets out the blueprint for what a future Iran can look like, including gender equality, a separation of religion and state and a Republic founded on universal suffrage and pluralism.”
Lord Singh of Wimbledon CBE:
“As the regime is stepping up the execution to an unprecedented level, the UK must act with international partners to save the lives of those detained at risk of execution by putting pressure on the regime to allow UN Human Rights experts and the Special Rapporteur on Iran to enter the country to visit the prisons and meet with detained protesters and political prisoners.”
Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss has warned that freedom and democracy are under greater threat than they have been in decades, citing the rise of authoritarian regimes such as China, Russia, and Iran.
She said that these regimes have been emboldened by the free world’s complacency and appeasement. “We have been complacent in the face of the rise of authoritarian regimes,” Truss said. “We have allowed them to believe that they can get away with their behavior. We have appeased them. And we have not stood up to them.”
Truss called on the free world to take a tougher stance against these regimes and to support the brave people who are fighting for freedom and democracy. “We must be tougher,” she said. “We must be more clear. And we must be more positive about the future.”
With respect to Iran, Truss specifically said, “We must not allow the Iranian regime to get its hands on nuclear weapons,” she said. “We must support the women of Iran who are fighting for freedom. And we must stop the use of state hostage-taking by Iran.”
Former UK Speaker of House of Commons John Bercow: Iran Has an Alternative with over 40 Years of Preparation
John Bercow began his speech by saying that change is possible in Iran and that it is within reach. He called the Iranian regime’s argument that there is no alternative to their rule a “council of despair” and a “shocking display of political cynicism.”
Bercow also rejected the appeasement thesis, which argues that we should accept the Iranian regime as it is. He said that there is an alternative to the Iranian regime, and that is the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) led by Maryam Rajavi.
Bercow praised the NCRI as a “well-organized, soundly structured, and conceptually coherent movement” that has been preparing for change for over 40 years. He also said that Maryam Rajavi is a “woman of indefatigability, indestructibility, and inexhaustibility” who deserves our support.
Bercow concluded his speech by calling on the international community to support the people of Iran in their struggle for freedom. He said that we must “not concede, abandon, or fall short in our support” and that we must “speak up and speak out for the people of Iran.”
Majority of Scottish parliamentarians support the Iranian people in their struggle
Majority of Welsh parliamentarians support the Iranian people in their struggle
Majority of N. Ireland parliamentarians support the Iranian people in their struggle
The bravery shown by the women of Iran, especially those who are very young, over the last few weeks has been inspiring.
The response to the shocking murder of 22 year old Mahsa Amini, at the hands of the Iranian regime, has seen women take to the streets across the whole of the country. The footage of courageous displays of opposition is striking – even including female students at a Tehran university chanting “get lost” at the Iranian president Embrahim Raisi.
The aggressive crackdown in response to the protests has seen more than 150 people tragically killed, including a sixteen year old girl. The Iranian authorities’ continued willingness to use excessive force and violence is extremely concerning.
The UK, along with our allies, must stand in solidarity with all those protesting. Liberal Democrats have been leading calls for the UK Government to take meaningful actions to do so. In UK Parliament, I secured time in the House of Lords to question Foreign Office ministers about the UK’s response. In Edinburgh, Alex Cole-Hamilton has spoken at a rally in memory of Mahsa Amini, while in the Welsh Senedd, Jane Dodds tabled a statement of opinion in support of Iranian protesters.
We were the first to call on the UK Government to follow the lead of our Canadian and American allies and sanction the Iranian morality police. I was pleased to see the Foreign Office announce such sanctions earlier this week.
The UK Government must now take three further steps.
First, maintaining access to any independent media in Iran is absolutely vital, and an area in which the UK Government can make a tangible difference. It’s highly concerning to read reports that the BBC World Service is planning on shutting down its Persia radio service – one of the many consequences of the failure of the Conservative Government to provide robust funding for the BBC. Radio is a technology which is highly relied on in times of difficulty. The Government recognised this earlier this year, when emergency funding for the World Service in Ukraine was released. We must do the same for BBC Persia.
Second, we must also ensure that, if difficulties in Iran escalate, then we are in a position where we are able to offer safe refuge for Iranian women. Over the last eighteen months we have seen the dire consequences of a failure to prepare such schemes – first in Afghanistan, and then in Ukraine. It is vital that preparations for a resettlement scheme start now, so we do not repeat the mistakes of previous schemes.
Finally, coordination with our allies is key. The bandwidth of British ministers has been consumed with the fiasco over the ‘mini-Budget’ – and, prior to that, the Conservative leadership contest. It’s vital that the UK plays an active role in building a better world. We must work with our international partners to coordinate a joint response to this crisis, with a particular focus on the rights of women; international development assistance, and independent media.
Zöe Franklin Member of Parliament (MP) for Guildford
Dear Mr Afrash
As promised that I would speak to our Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament, Zoe Franklin about the concerns you raised. Below is her response. I know that she will continue to do her best.
The Liberal Democrats are increasingly concerned by excessive use of force and violence by the Iranian authorities, including reports of public executions, following widespread protests across Iran at the shocking death of Mahsa Amini.
The crackdown on these protests is disgraceful. We condemn the use of violent repression to curtail public demonstrations, protests and freedom of expression by Iranian women.
We also call for the release of Toomaj Salehi and others who have been arrested for protesting for women’s rights in Iran.
The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle.
The UK Government must be clear that these executions are unacceptable. We must use our Magnitsky sanctions regime against anyone involved in the execution of protesters.
The Liberal Democrats stand ready to support strong sanctions upon the cowardly Iranian regime. It’s time for the Government to go much further, faster when it comes to sanctions.
We must coordinate with our allies to take action against the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), including proscribing the group.
After calls by the Liberal Democrats, we welcomed the Government’s decision to follow the lead of the United States and Canada to sanction Iran’s morality police in response to these events. The Government must now take further steps.
The Liberal Democrats are also conscious that if the difficulties in Iran escalate, then we may be in a position where we have to offer safe refuge for women in Iran.
Over the last four years we have seen the dire consequences of a failure to prepare such schemes – first in Afghanistan, and then in Ukraine.
It is vital that preparations for a resettlement scheme for Iranian women start now, so we do not repeat the errors of previous schemes with delays in having them up and running.
The UK should also follow the call of Anoosheh Ashoori – and ensure that the relatives of sanctioned officials are not living the high life in the UK off the back of stolen wealth which has been funnelled out of Iran.
The section above is from November 5 2024.
Liberal Democrats have also been leading calls in Parliament for the UK Government to take stronger actions against Iran, which has consistently de-stabilised the region, including via the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and armed terrorist proxies Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.
As a Party, we recognise the existential threat that Iran poses not only to Israel, but also to Western democracies including the UK. We continue to call for the proscription of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation, who act with impunity and who supply terrorist groups such as Hezbollah with weapons.
The Liberal Democrats were the first UK party to call for sanctions on Iran following the murder of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, and we have recently also called on the Government to conduct an audit of UK-based assets owned by Iranian officials, in order to freeze those assets.
My best wishes
Cllr Stephen Hives
Caroline Lucas: Iran has continued to violate his basic human rights
Letter to the foreign secretary about the execution of Mohammad Reza Ghobadlou in Iran:
The Rt Hon Lord Cameron
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
23 January 2024
Dear David,
I am writing to draw your attention to the execution of Mohammad Reza Ghobadlou, which happened in the early hours of this morning in Iran. Mohammad was a political prisoner, arrested at the age of 22 during protests calling for freedom and human rights in Iran. He was taken to court and given an execution sentence with no chance to defend himself. During his detention he was denied essential health care, despite having health issues which required regular medical attention.
A year ago, I called on the FCDO to urgently intervene when I received reports that Mohammad had been taken into solitary confinement and his execution was imminent. On that occasion he was given a stay of execution, but Iran has continued to violate his basic human rights and those of other prisoners, including ignoring global standards and conventions regarding the right to protest and on how prisoners should be treated, and imprisoning brave Iranians on bogus charges and in conditions that breach the United Nations Convention against Torture and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Mohammad Reza Ghobadlou will very likely be one of hundreds of people who are executed by the murderous Iranian regime this year. In 2023, it’s estimated that the death sentence was used against more than 700 prisoners, with a significant surge in the period following the October 7th Hamas terror attacks. Human rights activists and the families of those put to death have accused the regime of using the world’s preoccupation with war in Gaza as a cover to exact revenge on dissidents and put people to death without due judicial process.
The UK Government has condemned Iran’s use of the death penalty but, to date, has failed to proscribe the IRGC – a move which would send a much clearer signal to Tehran than the current sanctions, which at best are performative given how few assets Iran has in the UK.
Since its formation in 1979, the IRGC has used intimidation, forced disappearances, torture, and executions to spread terror across Iran. Its influence in the current escalation of violence in the Middle East is well documented, it’s engaged in active support for armed groups across Africa and it has deepened military relations with Russia too, supplying Putin with weapons that are being used in Ukraine. The Iranian regime is behind at least 15 credible plots to kidnap and assassinate Iranian dissidents or British citizens and continues to execute young men and women like Mohammad with impunity. Whilst proscribing the IRGC would not directly protect the lives of other political prisoners in Iran, it would help increase pressure on the regime and mark an important milestone in seeking to hold them responsible for their inhumane and unlawful actions.
The UK Government must stop dragging its heels. The lives of other political prisoners could depend on the IRGC being held to account. As one of Mohammad’s international political sponsors, I want to ensure his life stands for something more than just another statistic. I urge you to act without delay and work with the Home Secretary to ensure the IRGS are proscribed as a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000.
I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely,
Caroline Lucas
Leaders and Lawmakers Unite at Westminster to Condemn Iran’s Execution Surge
On October 11, 2025, a high-profile conference convened at Church House, Westminster (London), on the occasion of the World Day Against the Death Penalty, bringing together lawmakers, human rights advocates, international dignitaries, and Iranian dissidents to condemn Iran’s surging executions and to affirm solidarity with the Iranian resistance movement.
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Former Canadian PM: Iran’s Uprising Will Burn Entire Regime to The Ground
At an international conference held in Brussels on September 15, Mr. Stephen Harper, former Prime Minister of Canada, was among the distinguished guests and speakers to address the event that was organized by the Iranian Resistance.
Honoring the anniversary of Iran’s 2022 uprising, Prime Minister Harper touched on the various characteristics of nationwide revolt and forecasted that this movement will eventually “burn the entire regime to the ground.”
Former Canadian FM John Baird: Revolution in Iran Is Very Well Organized
In his speech, John Baird said that the Iranian regime is a “brutal and repressive dictatorship” that must be brought down. He warned against the dangers of negotiating with the regime, which he compared to Hitler’s Germany.
“The West must not negotiate with the Iranian regime, as this will only embolden them,” Baird said. “The only way to bring about change in Iran is to impose tough sanctions and to support the NCRI/MEK, which is the only viable alternative to the current regime.”
Baird also praised the Canadian government’s decision to cut off relations with Iran and expel its diplomats. He condemned the Iranian regime’s support for terrorism, its nuclear program, and its human rights abuses.
“The Iranian regime is a threat to peace and security in the region and the world,” Baird said. “It must be held accountable for its crimes.”
Baird concluded his speech by expressing his solidarity with the Iranian people and their struggle for freedom.
“The Iranian people are demanding freedom and democracy, and they will not be silenced,” Baird said. “I stand with them in their struggle.”
Canadian MP, Honorable Judy Sgro, expressed her unwavering support for the Iranian people’s quest for freedom and democracy.
On March 28, 2023, within the hallowed halls of the House of Commons of Canada, a poignant moment unfolded as the Canadian Member of Parliament (MP), the Honorable Judy Sgro, expressed her resolute support for the Iranian people’s unyielding quest for freedom and democracy.
With conviction in her voice, Hon. Sgro underscored the Iranian people’s cherished aspiration—a free and democratic secular Iran. In doing so, she issued a heartfelt call to her fellow parliamentarians, urging them to amplify their voices and maintain unrelenting pressure on the oppressive Iranian regime. Her address resonated with solidarity for the Iranian people’s unequivocal rejection of all forms of dictatorship and their deep-seated desire for a secular and democratic republic.
Tony Clement, the former President of the Canadian Treasury Board and Minister, recently delivered a compelling speech at an international conference held on July 3 at the NCRI headquarters, addressing the tragic 1988 massacre in Iran.
In his impassioned address, Mr. Clement shed light on the audacity of the Iranian government, which had the audacity to criticize the French government’s handling of protests. He emphasized that the clerical regime’s criticism reflects its failure to acknowledge its own shortcomings in dealing with domestic demonstrations spanning over four decades.
On February 22, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland, United Nations experts, alongside survivors of the 1988 massacre and victims’ families, emphasized the urgent need for accountability regarding ongoing crimes against humanity in Iran. The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran and the Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances joined forces with international experts in advocating for an independent international inquiry into the mass extra-judicial executions and enforced disappearances of numerous political prisoners in Iran.
During a civil society hearing at the Geneva Press Club, organized by Justice for the Victims of the 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI), survivors and victims’ families had a platform to provide testimony to the UN Special Procedures, shedding light on the extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances of their loved ones after 35 years. Witnesses included survivors of the 1988 massacre, relatives of victims, activists from Iran, and family members of protesters killed by authorities, some of whom conveyed their accounts through video testimonies from within Iran.
The hearing, attended by ambassadors, experts from various Permanent Missions, observers from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and numerous human rights advocates and NGOs, underscored the imperative for international scrutiny and justice in addressing these egregious human rights violations.
