Paris, February 8, 2025 – Thousands of Iranians and international dignitaries gathered in Paris to mark the 46th anniversary of the 1979 anti-monarchic revolution and to call for the downfall of Iran’s ruling theocracy. Under the theme “No to Monarchy, No to Theocracy—Yes to a Democratic Republic!”, the demonstrators voiced their rejection of both the Shah’s dictatorship and the current clerical regime, advocating for a democratic and secular Iran.
The rally, part of the #ParisFreeIranRally movement, featured an array of powerful speeches by political leaders, human rights activists, and members of the Iranian Resistance. The event also honored fallen freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives in the struggle against both monarchical and clerical oppression.
Keynote Address by Maryam Rajavi
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), delivered an impassioned speech, declaring: “Yes, neither Shah nor Sheikh—long live the Iranian people’s democratic revolution!” She described the clerical regime as being at its weakest point, facing domestic unrest, international pressure, and an emboldened Resistance movement.
Mrs. Rajavi reaffirmed the NCRI’s commitment to a democratic republic, gender equality, and the separation of religion from the state. She called on world powers to support the Iranian people’s aspirations instead of appeasing the Tehran regime.
International Support for the Iranian Resistance
Several international figures took the stage to express solidarity with the Iranian people:
- Guy Verhofstadt, former Belgian Prime Minister, declared 2025 as a turning point for Iran: “Just as Syria liberated itself from Bashar al-Assad, Iran will be free of the mullahs.” He warned against the Iranian regime’s nuclear ambitions and urged Western governments to adopt a firmer stance, calling for the reinstatement of UN sanctions and the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
- Jean-François Legaret, former mayor of Paris’s 1st district, highlighted the vulnerability of Iran’s ruling regime: “The downfall of the Assad regime sends a clear message to the people of Iran that their oppressors are not invincible.” He endorsed Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as the path toward democracy.
- Ingrid Betancourt, former Colombian senator, denounced the regime’s human rights abuses and hostage-taking tactics: “We are here for the people on death row in Iran. We must stop these criminals ruling Iran.”
- Christine Arrighi, a French MP, emphasized that all dictatorships eventually collapse: “They fall from inside, from the pressure of the world, and from the resistance of people like you.”
- Jacques Boutault, Deputy Mayor of Paris Centre, condemned Iran’s skyrocketing execution rate: “The Iranian regime was responsible for 74% of global executions in 2023, and in 2024, it executed more than 1,000 people.” He called for international action to abolish the death penalty, aligning with Rajavi’s vision for a free Iran.
Voices from the Iranian Resistance
Prominent figures from the Iranian Resistance reinforced the call for revolution:
- Zinat Mirhashemi, a leading member of the NCRI, emphasized the Iranian people’s historical fight for freedom: “As long as there is dictatorship, the movement to overthrow it will also exist.”
- Kak Baba Sheikh Hosseini, Secretary General of the Khabat Organization of Iranian Kurdistan, expressed solidarity with the Iranian Resistance: “The dictatorship of the mullahs hijacked the people’s revolution against the Shah. We stand united for a democratic republic.”
- Mahnaz Salimian, Senior Secretary of the NCRI, declared that the same fiery spirit that overthrew the Shah would bring down the clerical regime: “Regime officials are tearing each other apart to stay alive.”
- Rebecca Malihi, Arash Marandi, Dr. Sina Dashti, Milica Javdan, and Mona Forouzandeh, among others, spoke passionately about the sacrifices made by Iran’s youth in the fight for democracy. “The young generation of Iran will uproot both the Shah and the mullahs forever,” Forouzandeh vowed.
A Call to Action
The rally concluded with resounding chants of “Death to the oppressor, be it the Shah or the Supreme Leader!” and “Freedom for Iran!” The message was clear: the Iranian people will not rest until they achieve their rightful place among the free nations of the world.
The demonstrators and speakers called on the international community to support the Iranian people’s fight for freedom, recognize the NCRI as their legitimate representative, and impose harsher sanctions on the Iranian regime to accelerate its downfall.
As the resistance grows stronger, the hope for a free and democratic Iran burns brighter than ever.
