Iranian Communities Supporting the NCRI in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France Address Belgian Leaders Before Reza Pahlavi’s Invitation Was Canceled
In an open letter to Belgium’s Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and the Presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives, Iranian associations supporting the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) condemned the invitation of Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s ousted Shah, to the Belgian Parliament, as well as his meeting with Belgium’s Defense Minister.
The signatories described these engagements as an insult to the Iranian people’s revolution against the Shah and a disregard for the universal values of democracy and human rights. They stressed that the Iranian people have spent a century struggling against two successive dictatorships—both of which, they said, have been responsible for bloodshed and repression.
Iranian Communities Condemn Invitation to Reza Pahlavi
In their letter, the Iranian associations stated:
“We, the Iranian associations in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France, representing Iranian communities in these countries, consider the presence of Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s ousted dictator, in Belgium, and the meeting between him and Belgium’s Defense Minister, an insult to the Iranian people’s revolution against the Shah and a disregard for the universal values of democracy and human rights.
“For a century, the Iranian people have struggled against two blood-soaked dictatorships to achieve these values.”
Victims of the Shah’s Repression Have Not Forgotten
The signatories emphasized that many members of their associations, as well as their closest relatives, were victims of arrest, imprisonment, brutal torture, and execution under the Shah’s dictatorship.
“Even after 50 years, the marks of torture inflicted by the Shah’s regime remain on the bodies of many former prisoners,” the letter stated.
The associations added that the Iranian people would never forget the political prisoners who died under SAVAK torture or those who were sent in large numbers to firing squads.
SAVAK was the Shah’s notorious secret police, widely associated with the repression, surveillance, and torture of political opponents.
Reza Pahlavi Has Failed to Condemn the Shah’s Crimes
The letter stressed that the objections to Reza Pahlavi go beyond his family ties to the former monarchy.
The signatories stated that he has not condemned the crimes committed under the Shah’s dictatorship, the former one-party system, or SAVAK. Instead, he has repeatedly sought to justify those crimes and, particularly over the past year, expressed pride in his family’s history and record.
Reza Pahlavi’s network has already taken steps toward reviving SAVAK-style repression and has begun suppressing opponents and attacking gatherings organized by his critics outside Iran. Numerous criminal complaints concerning alleged assaults and even killings of opponents have been brought before judicial authorities and police in Western countries.
Belgian Officials Urged Not to Legitimize Dictatorship
The associations warned that, under these circumstances, Reza Pahlavi’s presence in Belgium or a meeting with the country’s Defense Minister would be viewed by Iranians, both inside and outside the country, as a move against their struggle for freedom and democracy.
They called on Belgian officials not to allow Belgium’s name to become associated, in the eyes of the Iranian people, with the Shah’s dictatorship.
The letter concluded by emphasizing the Iranian people’s aspiration for a democratic republic based on the separation of religion and state, gender equality, and the autonomy of Iran’s nationalities.
The signatories urged Belgian leaders to respect these aspirations and stand with the Iranian people’s pursuit of democracy, freedom, and human rights.
Signatories
The letter was signed by 47 Iranian associations and communities in Luxembourg, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium:
Luxembourg
- Association for Human Rights and Democracy in Iran in Luxembourg
- Youth Association in Luxembourg
- Iranian Committee of Luxembourg
France
- Association of Iranian Women in France (Paris)
- Iranian-French Association for Democracy and Laïcité
- Association of Political Refugees for the Defense of Human Rights in France
- Women for Freedom in Iran Association
- Omid Association in Strasbourg, France
- Peace and Freedom Association
- Academics for a Free Iran in France
- Youth Association for Freedom and Secularism (Laïcité)
The Netherlands
- Association of Iranian Physicians in the Netherlands
- Tomorrow’s Future-Builders Youth Association
- Association of Iranian Graduates and Professionals
- Voice of Iranian Uprising Women Association
- Association of Iranian Democratic Educators
- Habib Khabiri Athletes Association
- Association for the Support of Political Prisoners
- Mothers of Martyrs of Freedom Association
- Online Campaign Association in Support of the Iranian Resistance
- Iranian Refugee Community in the Netherlands
- Association of Friendship with the Peoples of the Middle East
- Association for the Defense of Religious Rights and Freedoms
- Association for the Defense of Martyrs of the Struggle for Freedom
- Association of Iranian Experts
- Association for the Defense of Workers’ Rights in Iran
- Association of Defenders of Political Prisoners’ Rights
- Association Against Torture and Execution
- Association of Iranian Athletes
- Women Against Fundamentalism Association
- Association for the Support of Teachers
- Pen and Expression Association
- Association for the Support of Working Children
- Association for the Support of the Women of 1,000 Ashrafs
- Association for the Defense of Refugees’ Rights
- Culture and Arts Association
- Union of Associations in the Netherlands
- Iranian Anti-Execution Association
- International Women’s Association in the Netherlands
- Student Outcry Association
Belgium
- Together for Human Rights Association in Belgium
- Association of Iranian Democratic Students in Belgium
- Association for the Defense of Freedom of Expression in Iran
- Association for the Support of Iranian Political Prisoners in Belgium
- Association of Families of the Victims of the 1988 Massacre in Belgium
- Association of Iranian Democratic Women in Belgium
- Association for the Support of Ethnic and Religious Communities in Iran
End of statement.
