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Leo Dautzenberg Urges Europe to Recognize Iran’s Democratic Resistance

Leo Dautzenberg, former member of the German parliament and Chair of the German Solidarity Committee for a Free Iran (DSFI)

Leo Dautzenberg Calls on Europe to Support Iran’s Democratic Opposition

Speaking The Second Free Iran 2025 Conference hosted by the Iranian Resistance on May 31, 2025, Leo Dautzenberg, former member of the German parliament and Chair of the German Solidarity Committee for a Free Iran (DSFI), urged European governments to end their policy of appeasement toward the Iranian regime. He called for the formal recognition of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) as the legitimate voice of a democratic Iran.

Dautzenberg highlighted the regime’s growing vulnerability, citing the collapse of its regional allies like Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah, as well as the expanding influence of Resistance Units inside Iran led by the PMOI. He praised the Iranian Resistance for its sacrifices and progress, warning that European appeasement has enabled Tehran to export extremism, exploit democratic institutions, and undermine opposition voices across the continent.

He called on European leaders to act decisively in support of freedom and democracy, describing the NCRI and Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan  as genuine partners in promoting democratic values.

Dautzenberg concluded with a stark warning: Europe must choose action today or risk regretting its silence as Iran’s democratic movement rises.

The following is a translated version of the speech.

Dear President Rajavi, dear ladies and gentlemen, dear friends of a free Iran, and my dear friends in Ashraf 3 — I greet you all very warmly.

The Iranian mullah regime, ladies and gentlemen, is under strong pressure today. This has been emphasized repeatedly — and it is a positive development for the Iranian Resistance.

A regime that has sought its survival and expansion — above all — through the oppression of its own people, the export of terrorism, and warmongering, is now significantly weakened following the fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon and the fall of one of its most important allies in Syria, Bashar al-Assad.

Another promising sign is the growth of the Resistance Units within Iran.

These Resistance Units pose a serious challenge to the dictatorship, and it has already been emphasized by previous speakers that the success achieved by the Iranian Resistance has come at a high cost in blood — and this must not be forgotten.

The prospect of change in Iran is now within reach.

Yet today, I would like to highlight an existing obstacle — one that lies in the hands of the Europeans, and thus, in our hands as well.

This obstacle — as has already been mentioned — is the policy of appeasement, which has significantly contributed to the survival of the dictatorship in Iran until now.

This policy has enabled, and continues to enable, the regime to use facilities in Europe as bases for spreading fundamentalism, to infiltrate foreign policy institutions with its lobbyists, to discredit the voices of democratic forces like the National Council of Resistance, and to spread lies, propaganda, and disinformation — all without consequence.

From here, my dear friends, I want to raise an appeal — our shared appeal — to European governments: the time for hesitation is over. The time to act is now.

The National Council of Resistance is our partner in the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights — as clearly laid out in Mrs. Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan — and it must be politically recognized as such.

President Maryam Rajavi has expressed it clearly and concisely: It is possible, and it must be done.

We, too, can and must end the policy of appeasement — so that Europe does not one day have to apologize for its inaction in the face of a free Iran.

Thank you very much.

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Leo Dautzenberg Urges Europe to Recognize Iran’s Democratic Resistance