Canadian MP Judy Sgro condemns Iran’s repression and voices support for a democratic transition at Free Iran 2026 Summit.

Addressing participants at the Free Iran 2026 World Summit, Canadian Member of Parliament Judy Sgro delivered a strong condemnation of the Iranian regime’s response to the nationwide protests that erupted in January 2026. Speaking on behalf of a bipartisan Canadian delegation, she drew attention to what she described as a worsening human rights situation in Iran, citing the large number of casualties, extensive arrests, and a growing wave of executions carried out against political prisoners and dissidents. Sgro also referred to the confirmed death sentence of engineer Zahra Tabari, portraying the case as an example of the authorities’ continued reliance on capital punishment as a tool to silence organized opposition movements.

Despite the intensifying crackdown, Sgro expressed optimism about the prospects for democratic change in Iran. She praised the activities of the Resistance Units and highlighted the leadership role played by women under the guidance of Maryam Rajavi. Rejecting claims that no viable democratic alternative exists to the current government, she argued that such narratives serve to mislead the international community and encourage policies of accommodation toward Tehran.

Sgro further welcomed the formation of a provisional government announced in February 2026, noting that it was based on Mrs. Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan for Iran’s future. Referring to the coalition’s longstanding advocacy of political pluralism, the separation of religion and state, and equal rights for women, she called on governments and international institutions to extend their support to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). She concluded by urging an end to executions in Iran and encouraging coordinated international efforts aimed at facilitating a peaceful and democratic transition.

Judy Sgro, Member of Parliament for Humber River–Black Creek: The Iranian people continue to face one of the world’s most brutal dictatorships, yet their courage and resistance endure. We stand with Maryam Rajavi, the NCRI ،a democratic future for Iran. #OurChoiceMaryamRajavi…

— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) June 20, 2026

The full script of Judy Sgro’s speech follows:

Thank you very much. Thank you.

I want to take a moment and introduce the Canadian parliamentarians that are with us as well on the stage. Of course, we have the Honorable John Baird, who’s well known by all of us who attend this event. Honorable Candice Bergen, Michael Cooper, Kerry Diotte, Senator MacDonald, and to all of our Canadian friends of Iranian background, it’s wonderful to be with you here today.

I have to share that I have been coming here for more years than I’m going to admit to, and every year, I get more inspired.

I have to say to all of the wonderful speakers who spoke today, I think we were all wondering where this was going when we came. Were we still going to have a movement to support after what has gone on and after the war that was happening?

I leave here even more confident [that] what is coming is freedom for the Iranian people.

It’s a great privilege to join you in support of the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom, democracy, and human rights.

The Iranian people continue to face, as you all know, one of the most brutal dictatorships in the world. Following the nationwide uprising of January 2026, the regime responded with unprecedented repression. Thousands of protesters were killed, tens of thousands were arrested, [and] many were subjected to torture and enforced disappearances.

Yet, despite this brutality, the Iranian people and the courageous Resistance Units continue their struggle for freedom and justice.

Women, of course, have played an important role in this movement led by Madam Rajavi.

I want to highlight the broader human rights crisis that is truly facing Iran, particularly the escalating wave of executions and the persecution of political prisoners.

A recent example is Ms. Zahra Tabari, an Iranian political prisoner and supporter of PMOI and the MEK. Mrs. Tabari is an electrical and energy engineer who holds a master’s degree from the University of Borås in Sweden.

Her death sentence has once again been upheld solely because of her political beliefs and support for the Iranian Resistance. Her case symbolizes the regime’s fear of organized opposition and the systemic use of executions as a tool of repression that we have heard a lot of today.

Canadians call for an immediate halt to all executions in Iran and the unconditional release of all political prisoners.

The regime and its lobbyists continue to spread false narratives that no organized democratic alternative exists, and [that] the fall of the clerical dictatorship would lead to nothing but chaos, insecurity, civil conflict, or even the disintegration of Iran. This is a deliberate deception designed to justify continued appeasement and discourage support for democratic change.

But the facts tell a different story. For more than four decades, the National Council of Resistance of Iran has served as a democratic coalition committed to freedom, pluralism, gender equality, and the separation of religion and state.

Therefore, we strongly welcome and support the timely announcement made by the NCRI on the 28th of February 2026, establishing a provisional government based on Madam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan.

This initiative provides a clear roadmap for a peaceful, democratic transition, the transfer of sovereignty to the Iranian people through free elections, and the establishment of a democratic republic.

As we are hearing today, the international community, all of us—East, West, South, and North—must stand together, must stand behind Madam Rajavi and the Ten-Point Plan, and push back on all of the disinformation that continues to happen [and] that we know is disinformation. It’s up to each and every one of us to push it all back.

I would like to ask now my colleague, the Honorable John Baird, to say a few words.