On March 20, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) organized a rally in Brussels, Belgium, which coincided with the meeting of the E.U. Foreign Affairs Council. Thousands of Iranians participated in the demonstration, demanding the designation of the Iranian regime’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist organization due to its use to suppress nationwide protests.
The rally took place hours before Nowruz, the Persian New Year, and included participants carrying the Iranian flag and chanting “Blacklist IRGC now!”
Several European and American dignitaries spoke in support of the NCRI’s President-elect, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, and her ten-point plan for the future of Iran. Speakers expressed support for the Iranian people’s demand for a democratic and secular republic and the rejection of a return to the ousted Pahlavi regime.
The attendees called for the terrorist designation of the IRGC, and several speakers stressed the importance of adopting a firm policy towards the Iranian regime.
Mrs. Rajavi commended the Iranian diaspora’s persistence in amplifying the voices of their compatriots during her rally message. She applauded their New Year protests against Khamenei’s criminal regime and their united efforts to urge the European Union to designate Khamenei’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist entity. Through their unwavering dedication, they have established that the “no shah, no mullah” demarcation is an inviolable red line of the Iranian Resistance that they staunchly defend.
During the rally, other speakers also expressed support for the Iranian people’s demand for a democratic and secular republic, and their refusal of a return of the ousted Pahlavi regime. “The uprising against the regime continues today. This movement started with the struggle against the shah’s dictatorship. The people of Iran don’t want tyranny. The regime is a danger to its own people and a threat to peace and stability across the globe,” stated Ms. Latifa Aït Baala, a member of the Brussels Parliament.
Former U.S. Democratic Senator Robert Torricelli endorsed the Iranian people’s pursuit of democracy, urging the international community to stand “on the right side of history.” He called on them to support the Iranian people and freedom, rather than pursuing short-term economic opportunities with the mullahs.
Torricelli was joined by former U.S. House of Representatives member, Patrick Kennedy, in supporting the Iranian Resistance and their revolution. Kennedy emphasized the need for a democratic republic in Iran and stated that opposing the mullahs was not enough, as a military dictatorship was akin to a religious dictatorship.
Belgian Senator Els Ampe also supported the establishment of a democratic republic in Iran, acknowledging that democracy was within reach thanks to the opposition’s efforts. She questioned why anyone would choose tyranny or monarchy when a democratic republic was a viable option.
Françoise Schepmans, a member of the Brussels Parliament, emphasized that the people of Iran wanted the freedom to choose their religion, clothing, and express themselves. She stated that the demonstration was a call for freedom and democracy and aimed to overthrow the mullahs’ regime, which suppressed the rights of its people.
During the rally, the attendees emphasized the importance of designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization and the necessity of this action to counter the Iranian regime’s threat to global peace and security. Mr. Mark Demesmaeker, a Member of the Belgian Senate, urged the European Union and its member states to take a firm stance against the Iranian regime by listing the IRGC as a terrorist organization. He warned that any weakness shown towards the regime would only embolden the mullahs to become even more aggressive.
Manel Msalmi, an international affairs advisor at the European Parliament and president of several organizations, also stressed the need for a firm policy towards the Iranian regime. She called for the international community to stand up against the regime’s repression of the Iranian people, terrorism in the Middle East, and policy of hostage-taking and blackmail.
Mehdi Same, Spokesman for the Iranian People’s Fedayian Organization and NCRI Industry Committee Chair, echoed the attendees’ demands for the international community to respect UN and human rights principles and to stop aiding the Iranian regime and its suppressive apparatus. He emphasized the urgent need for the IRGC to be listed as a terrorist organization.
Baba Sheikh Hosseini, the Secretary General of the Iranian Kurdistan’s Khebat Organization, along with Mr. Same and others, urged the EU to blacklist the IRGC. Sheikh Hosseini emphasized that their struggle is legitimate because they are fighting against a criminal regime that commits atrocities visible to the world.
Deputy Secretary of the NCRI, Mr. Aboulghassem Rezaee, highlighted the significance of the recent uprising, stating that it not only shook the regime’s core but also revealed the true nature of those promoting a return to the shah dictatorship. He expressed that the resistance units have shown that the only path to freedom is through paying the price and making sacrifices, as well as sticking to the principal policy of “no to the Shah, no to mullahs,” which resonates with people across Iran who seek a democratic republic.
Former MEP Paolo Casaca praised the Iranian people’s courage and persistence, emphasizing the importance of respecting their unbreakable will to achieve liberation. Serge de Patoul, Former MP from Brussels Parliament and former mayor of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, expressed his support for the cause, stating that the next Iranian state should be a democratic and secular government, which can establish peace and freedom in the region.
Finally, members of Iranian communities and associations pledged to continue their efforts in echoing the voice of their compatriots who have risen against the regime, as they move forward in the upcoming year.
