Bournemouth, UK — June 28, 2025 — In a compelling display of solidarity and civic engagement, the Academics in Exile Association held its first-ever public campaign event in Bournemouth, uniting local residents and members of the Iranian diaspora in a powerful call for justice, democracy, and human rights in Iran. Organized as part of the association’s broader “No to Executions” campaign, the initiative featured a public bookstall and a photo exhibition that vividly documented the Iranian regime’s intensifying wave of executions, particularly targeting political prisoners affiliated with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
The event garnered widespread attention and heartfelt support. Manyof Bournemouth citizens signed petitions advocating forMaryam Rajavi’s “Third Option” — a democratic and peaceful alternative to both military intervention and appeasement. This solution, backed by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), emphasizes regime change by the Iranian people and their organized resistance, presenting a viable path toward a free and democratic Iran.
The exhibition shed light on the Iranian regime’s egregious human rights violations, including the use of torture and the systemic execution of political prisoners. Attendees were particularly moved by the plight of political detainees and voiced strong support for their immediate and unconditional release. The emotional connection and exceptional reception from the public, especially from Iranian compatriots, underscored a growing international awareness and empathy toward the struggle of the Iranian people.
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— Academics In Exile Association (@iranianacademic) June 28, 2025
The overwhelming support from locals and Iranian expats for the NoToExecution campaign in #Bournemouth reflected growing international solidarity with the Iranian people—and the rising recognition of the third option for regime change and a #FreeIran pic.twitter.com/mIUgaaYvkv
This milestone event also marked a turning point for the movement and its resonance on the global stage. The campaign’s momentum has been reinforced by recent international successes and its principled stance on current geopolitical conflicts, signaling a shift in the atmosphere surrounding Iran’s democratic resistance.
In a direct appeal to UK authorities, the Academics in Exile urged the British government to take meaningful steps by designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization and closing the Iranian regime’s embassy in London — widely perceived as a hub for espionage and terrorism.
The campaign further emphasized the Iranian people’s right to self-defense and called for stronger international sanctions to compel the regime to comply with fundamental human rights standards. The presence and participation of Iranian activists from cities such as Sheffield bolstered the message: the global Iranian community is united in its demand for democratic change.
The Bournemouth event not only amplified calls for accountability and justice but also symbolized the growing appeal and legitimacy of a people-powered, non-violent solution to end tyranny in Iran. Through civic activism, public awareness, and international solidarity, the message was clear: the path to a democratic Iran lies not in war, but in organized resistance and the will of the people.
