NCRI Staff
NCRI – Members of the Anglo-Iranian communities and supporters of Iran’s democratic opposition coalition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), took part in a major rally opposite Number 10 Downing Street to call on the Prime Minister to break her silence over the popular uprising in Iran and the regime’s brutal crackdown.
Participants urged the Prime Minister and FCO to condemn the heavy crackdown on defenceless protesters which has resulted in 8000 arrests, who are now being threatened with the death penalty by the regime’s Judiciary.
50 protesters were killed in various Iranian cities since the nationwide uprising started on 28 December 2017. At least 8 detained protesters have been killed under torture in prisons, according to reports from Iran. Amnesty International has called for thorough investigations into these reported deaths in custody, denouncing the “shroud of secrecy and lack of transparency over what happened to these detainees”, especially given the intimidation of relatives of the detainees.
In a letter delivered to the Prime Minister’s Office, representatives of over 40 Anglo-Iranian associations and groups called on the Government to back the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people for change and to support their legitimate opposition, the NCRI.
“The Iranian regime’s President Hasan Rouhani is often portrayed as a moderate by the government here. But what kind of moderate allows a violent crackdown on peaceful protesters or steals from the public purse to fund regional warfare and terrorism? The protesters are chanting “Not Gaza, Not Lebanon, My Life Only for Iran”, “Reformists, Hard-Liners, the Whole Game Is Over”, and “Let Syria Be, Do Something for Me” to show that there are no moderates in the Regime”, the letter said.
The Anglo-Iranian associations called on the Government and the Prime Minister to “hold accountable the Iranian regime and … sanction the regime for the systematic violation of human rights, including the 1988 massacre and the killings during current uprising.”
The letter also urged the Government to “Condemn cutting off the Internet and social networks and ensuring the free access of the public to the Internet” and “Enforce binding decisions for the release of thousands of arrested demonstrators, establish a monitoring system and warn the Iranian regime that more serious actions will be taken should such trend continues.”
Members of Parliament and human rights personalities also addressed the rally in support of their demands.
“I am proud to sponsor an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons on January 8, 2018, which supports the right of citizens in Iran to protest and … condemns all acts of violence and suppression against the protesters carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Supported by two dozens of cross-party MPs, the EDM calls on the Government to include the IRGC on the list of proscribed organisations [and] impose punitive measures against its officials …”, Bob Blackman, Conservative MP for Harrow East, said.
The Rt Hon. Theresa Villiers, Conservative MP for Chipping Barnet, said, “I have such admiration for those brave people who came out on the streets to protest, to call for justice and freedom despite living in an oppressive regime, which was guaranteed to take reprisals against anyone brave enough to speak out. So I wanted to be here to express my solidarity with those people coming out to protest in Iran, to demand democracy, to demand freedom and to demand change.”
“I believe Iran is a great country and its people deserve far better then the oppression and injustice that they face at the hands of their government. We need change in Iran. We need an end to the cruelty and the inhumanity inflected on its people by its government and I am very pleased to be here to give my support to you and the cause for which you are campaigning”, she added.
Margaret Owen OBE, renowned international women’s rights activist, UK barrister and the Director of Widows for Peace through Democracy, said, “I admire the brave people of Iran. Women are at the forefront of these protests and I am here to support their demand for a free and democratic Iran based on the 10-point democratic platform of the NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi.”
