At the “Massive Iranian Resistance Rally” in Berlin, Jean-Pierre Brard, former French National Assembly member, honored the 44th anniversary of the June 20, 1981 uprising in Tehran—an event he called the “true beginning” of Iran’s resistance against the mullahs’ dictatorship. Drawing a powerful comparison to France’s historic stand against tyranny in 1940, Brard highlighted the shared determination of both peoples in their struggle for sovereignty and liberty.

He condemned the regime’s ongoing brutality, recalling the horrific 1988 massacre of over 30,000 political prisoners, and criticized the international community’s policy of appeasement, which has only strengthened Tehran’s oppressive grip. Referring to Maryam Rajavi’s foresight, Brard emphasized that compromise has failed, and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) offers a clear third path: democratic change led by the Iranian people and their organized resistance.

Brard praised the NCRI’s Ten-Point Plan as a blueprint for democracy, founded on the universal principles of freedom, equality, and secular governance. He spotlighted the thousands of resistance units active within Iran, describing them as the vital force destined to deal the regime its final defeat.

Concluding with a revolutionary declaration, Brard quoted: “Real revolutionaries are those who see the beacon of freedom in the darkness—long before others can.” He closed with unwavering confidence that the Iranian people’s victory is inevitable.

Former French MP Jean Pierre Brard: “21 years ago, Maryam Rajavi declared: The solution is neither appeasement nor war, but a third option—democratic change by the Iranian people and their organized resistance.” #IranThirdOption #NCRIAlternative pic.twitter.com/7505rma45D

— SIMAY AZADI TV (@en_simayazadi) June 21, 2025

A translated version of Jean-Pierre Brard’s speech follows. Portions have been lightly edited for clarity and flow.

Dear friends from Iran, dear German friends who, like we French, have stood faithfully alongside our Iranian friends for so long—good day.

Today we gather on June 20, the anniversary of a historic turning point: the 1981 uprising—the day the resistance against the mullahs’ dictatorship in Iran truly began.

Just a few days earlier, in our own country, France, we commemorated another foundational call to resistance: June 18, 1940, when General de Gaulle, from exile in London, called on all free French people to resist.

Two dates, two peoples, two struggles against tyranny: one against foreign occupation, the other against religious obscurantism and the brutal theft of national sovereignty.

On June 20, 1981—after all peaceful avenues for political participation had been blocked—500,000 peaceful demonstrators took to the streets of Tehran. They were met by bullets from the Revolutionary Guard, on Khomeini’s direct orders.

That day, the resistance decided it would no longer retreat. And since then, it has never been silenced: 43 years of struggle, sacrifice, and perseverance. In that time, over 100,000 opponents of the regime have been executed.

In 1988 alone, more than 30,000 political prisoners—most of them members or supporters of the People’s Mojahedin—were massacred over a few short months, following a fatwa issued by Khomeini.

These crimes are now recognized as crimes against humanity. Some experts even speak of genocide. Under the mullahs, Iran still holds the grim distinction of having the world’s highest per-capita execution rate. Since August 2024, at least 1,350 executions have been recorded.

And yet—today, hope is in the air. You feel it more than anyone else. The road is still long, but victory has never been closer than it is now.

Let me be clear: I am not speaking of Israeli bombings of Iran. That is neither your strategy nor your hope.

Those are the illusions of people like the Shah’s son, who believe history can repeat itself—just as his father returned to power in 1953 through a CIA-orchestrated coup, and his grandfather was placed on the throne by the will of the British Empire.

This prince knows only the paths from above. But your strength—your legitimacy—comes from walking alongside the people. And today, more than ever, your view of things is being confirmed.

Just two days ago, Maryam Rajavi said at the European Parliament—I quote: “Twenty-one years ago, I declared in this very plenary chamber: the solution is neither appeasement nor war, but a third path—democratic change through the Iranian people and their organized resistance.”

But for years, appeasement reigned. In 2002, the National Council of Resistance of Iran exposed a secret military nuclear program of the regime—an exposure the world knew nothing about until then. And how did Western democracies respond?

They began negotiating with the perpetrators—not with those who had revealed the truth. Worse still, they fulfilled the regime’s demand by placing the resistance itself on the terrorist list.

Almost 30 years ago, Maryam Rajavi warned—and I quote again: “The policy of compromise and appeasement encourages the regime to continue its repression and inevitably leads to war.”

But appeasement was chosen out of fear of war. As Churchill once said: “You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor—and you will have war.”

Yet your resistance has not weakened—on the contrary. Today, it is rooted in a clear program: the Ten-Point Plan, represented by Maryam Rajavi and the NCRI. It is based on universal values for which many peoples have given their lives: liberty, equality, fraternity.

This plan calls for:

Freedom of speech

Freedom of assembly

Freedom of the press and freedom of political parties

Separation of religion and state

Freedom of belief for all

Full gender equality

Autonomy for ethnic minorities and an end to their dual oppression

Environmental protection

A nuclear-free Iran, without weapons of mass destruction

Today, this struggle inside Iran is carried forward by thousands of active Resistance Units. In just one year, they have carried out over 3,000 actions against the machinery of repression.

It is this internal resistance—this deeply rooted network within Iranian society—that will ultimately deliver the decisive blow.

As a famous revolutionary once said: “True revolutionaries are those who see the beacon of freedom in the darkness, long before others can recognize it.”

So—you will win. You will win. And you will live again in a free Iran.