On Friday, January 5, 2024, at the town hall in Vilvoorde, Flemish Brabant, the non-profit organization Culture, Art, and Human Rights announced that one hundred and sixty-five Belgian municipalities have pledged their support for the Iranian resistance. This initiative was launched a year after the brutal killing of 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian, Mahsa (Jina) Amini, who was murdered following detention by Iran’s regime morality police for violating the female dress code. Amini’s murder by the regime’s repressive agents sparked nationwide protests across the country during 2022 and led to demonstrations both within Iran and internationally.

Mayors from these municipalities actively endorse the resistance while condemning the repressive actions of the Iranian regime. In the context of Belgium’s presidency of the EU Council, the organization urges the government to convey a strong message against the regime’s repression.

The campaign aligns itself with a 10-point plan formulated by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance in Iran (NCRI), advocating for a secular, democratic, and gender-equal republic in Iran.

Additionally, an exhibition and conference were held in the city municipality of Vilvoorde, where more than 160 Belgian mayors declared their support for Iranian women. The Iranian community members in Belgium, along with supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), participated in the conference at the Villevoorde city hall.

Expressing solidarity with 3,600 parliamentarians, 1,000 female international personalities, and 125 heads of state and former prime ministers, the mayors collectively supported Mrs. Maryam Rajavi and her ten-point plan, aiming to establish a democratic and secular republic in a free Iran.

Speeches from Mayor Bonte, the mayor of Vilvoorde, and Dr. Masoud Kashfi from the Society of Iranian Experts emphasized Belgium’s solidarity with the people and resistance of Iran. Mayor Bonte pledged clear support for human rights, women’s rights, political freedoms, and democratic processes. Dr. Kashfi paid tribute to the martyrs of the September 16, 2022 uprising, condemning the oppressive regime in Iran.

Mehdi Nobari, the president of Culture, Arts, and Human Rights, emphasized the campaign’s goal of refocusing attention on resistance in Iran. Mr. Nobari concluded the program by expressing gratitude to Mayor Bonte and called for increased pressure on the Tehran regime, highlighting Belgium’s role as the rotating presidency of the European Union.

The Belgian media warmly welcomed the program, with several news agencies, including Belga, La Liber, RTL, Brussels Times, and others, covering the news of Belgian mayors’ support for Iran’s resistance.