LONDON, October 11, 2025 — Lawmakers, human rights advocates, and international dignitaries from Europe and beyond gathered at Church House Westminster for a major international conference marking the World Day Against the Death Penalty. The event united global voices urging an immediate halt to Iran’s record-high executions, demanding accountability for past atrocities, and recognizing the NCRI and its President-elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi as the viable democratic alternative to the ruling theocracy.
On the occasion of #WorldDayAgainstTheDeathPenalty, the Iranian Resistance is holding a conference at Church House Westminster, Dean’s Yard, urging the world to #StopExecutionsInIran.https://t.co/Ljq2Y5nZuL
— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) October 11, 2025
“A Monster of Death”: Iran’s Regime Under Global Condemnation
Speakers from the UK, Europe, and Latin America described Iran’s clerical regime as a “monster of death” and the “capital punishment capital of the world.” They condemned the systematic political killings and repression targeting PMOI (People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran) members. A resounding call — “No to the Shah, no to the mullahs” — echoed throughout Westminster, with participants reaffirming support for the NCRI’s Ten-Point Plan for a democratic, secular republic.
Maryam Rajavi’s Keynote: Confronting Iran’s Execution Crisis
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the NCRI’s President-elect, warned that over 1,200 executions had taken place in the first nine months of 2025 — the highest figure in 36 years. She called the killings “murders disguised as law” and a symptom of a regime in crisis.
She condemned the executions of PMOI supporters Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani and the fatal medical neglect of political prisoner Somayeh Rashidi. Mrs. Rajavi linked today’s atrocities to the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners, stressing that “the same criminals” now control Iran’s judiciary and intelligence apparatus.
Rejecting both theocracy and monarchy, she declared:
“No to the Shah, no to the mullahs — no to all forms of dictatorship.”
Rajavi outlined her Ten-Point Plan for Iran’s democratic future, emphasizing secular governance, gender equality, an independent judiciary, and the complete abolition of the death penalty.
October 10, World day against the death penalty
Urgent campaign to #StopExecutionsInIran
On this #WorldDayAgainstTheDeathPenalty, I pay tribute to all those who were executed for their struggle for freedom.https://t.co/3Zx8JmydlY pic.twitter.com/K2G92Zb5i6— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) October 11, 2025
Global Voices Demand Action and Accountability
Baroness O’Loan: ICC Referral and Sanctions Urged
Baroness O’Loan announced a declaration signed by over 500 global dignitaries demanding an end to executions and impunity. She called on the UK and United Nations to refer the regime’s crimes to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and impose sanctions on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior judiciary officials.
Baroness O’Loan highlights the demands of over 500 dignitaries in their statement:
No to executions. No to impunity for the perpetrators of the 1988 massacre.
She calls for urgent action to save lives, asking: Why are these executions happening? Why now? And what must be done?… pic.twitter.com/g1wyYAKOLC— IRAN HRM (@IranHrm) October 11, 2025
Ingrid Betancourt: “Execution as Barbarism”
Former Colombian senator Ingrid Betancourt called the death penalty in Iran “an instrument of barbarism.” She praised prisoners on hunger strike and declared that supporting the NCRI and PMOI is “a moral duty.”
Every day is #WorldDayAgainstTheDeathPenalty for the #NoToExecutionTuesdays campaign.@IBetancourtCol: Iran’s prisoners turn hunger into a weapon, pointing to and accusing their executioners. They transform a day of horror into a moment of resistance, dignity, solidarity, and… pic.twitter.com/3NAlMiqPJ5
— IRAN HRM (@IranHrm) October 11, 2025
John Bercow: “Culpable Homicide” and Call for Policy Shift
Former UK Parliament Speaker John Bercow branded Iran’s regime a “fascist state” responsible for nearly two-thirds of all executions worldwide. He urged Britain to make Iran’s human rights violations a daily foreign policy priority, proclaiming, “You can dim the flame of freedom, but you cannot extinguish it.”
Former 🇬🇧 @HouseofCommons Speaker John Bercow describes Iran as the “capital punishment capital of the world”
64% of state executions worldwide are now perpetrated by the Iranian government, he adds
CC: @drmaisato @BobRae48#StopExecutionsInIran #WorldDayAgainstTheDeathPenalty https://t.co/L4ftot42aZ pic.twitter.com/6igclDR17z
— M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) October 11, 2025
Senator Giulio Terzi: IRGC Must Be Designated Terrorist Group
Italian Senator Giulio Terzi highlighted that while two-thirds of the world supports a death penalty moratorium, Iran remains “the heinous champion in hanging its people.” He called for the IRGC’s immediate terrorist designation and endorsed the NCRI’s democratic roadmap as the only alternative to both monarchy and theocracy.
1/5 Mio intervento alla straordinaria Conferenza organizzata a Londra dal Consiglio Nazionale della Resistenza in Iran, in occasione della Giornata Mondiale contro la Pena di Morte.https://t.co/kBM56enL0J#StopExecutionsInIran #WorldDayAgainstTheDeathPenalty #FreeIran…
— Giulio Terzi (@GiulioTerzi) October 11, 2025
Experts, Lawmakers, and Activists Unite Against Executions
Javaid Rehman: “A Weapon of Fear and Repression”
Former UN Special Rapporteur Javaid Rehman warned that executions in Iran have reached unprecedented levels, exceeding 1,000 already in 2025. He urged the creation of an international tribunal to prosecute perpetrators of the 1988 massacre and current crimes.
Former 🇺🇳 UN Special Rapporteur on Iran:
The UNGA annual resolution on Iran should reference the #1988Massacre. Unless prevented by the international community, the regime intends to repeat the atrocity crimes of 1988.
CC: @BobRae48 @BWoodward_UN @michaelgwaltz @AustraliaUN… https://t.co/ADxUDZtvTK pic.twitter.com/RwqIJUZYst
— M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) October 11, 2025
Dame Theresa Villiers: “Every Right-Thinking Person Should Be Outraged”
The former UK Cabinet minister cited parliamentary intelligence reports exposing at least 15 Iranian assassination attempts in Britain since 2022. She demanded that Iran’s record be referred to the UN Security Council, sanctions reinstated, and the IRGC proscribed as a terrorist group.
Senator Gerard Craughwell: “Executions Are Murders, Not Justice”
Irish Senator Gerard Craughwell declared, “Executions in Iran are murders.” He compared Iran’s struggle to Ireland’s own fight for independence, calling on the world to “flood embassies and parliaments” with demands to end the killings.
NCRI Representatives and Youth Voices: Resistance Rising
NCRI UK Representative Dowlat Nowrouzi revealed that Iran’s Resistance Units conducted 39,000 anti-regime activities in 135 cities last year. She urged the world to recognize the Iranian people’s right to overthrow the regime.
Community representative Massoud Zabeti declared the end of appeasement policies and warned that the regime exports “death and terror” abroad.
Young participants, including Rosa Zarei, Azadeh Hosseini, Neda Zabeti, Omid Ebrahimi, and Rana Rahmanfard, shared personal stories of relatives executed by both the Shah’s and the current regime. Their message was unified and powerful:
“No to Shah, no to Mullahs — yes to freedom.”
Global Consensus for a Democratic, Free Iran
The London Westminster Conference marked a turning point in global advocacy against Iran’s execution surge. World leaders and activists demanded an end to impunity and endorsed Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as a pathway toward a democratic, secular, and just Iran — an Iran without executions, torture, or tyranny.
