On November 27, 2024, the British Committee for Iran Freedom (BCFIF) published a statement regarding a meeting held in the UK Parliament. This session featured participation from members of both Houses of Parliament and various notable figures, focusing on the urgent need to support Iranian women facing systemic violence and discrimination. The discussions emphasized the importance of advocating for democratic change in Iran and highlighted the significant role women play in this movement.
Press Release: UK should stand with women of Iran for a democratic change, cross-party MPs and peers say
The British Committee for Iran Freedom (BCFIF) held a meeting in Parliament on Tuesday to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The meeting brought together cross-party MPs and Peers, representatives of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), women’s rights activists, and members of the Anglo-Iranian Community. Their participation underscored the UK’s cross-party solidarity with the NCRI and its advocacy for women’s equality, democracy, and fundamental rights. NCRI President-elect, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, also addressed the meeting.
Discussions highlighted the dire situation faced by Iranian women, who endure state-sanctioned violence and discrimination enshrined in Iran’s constitution, including the compulsory dress code.
Speakers condemned the regime’s use of death penalty, and sexual violence to suppress dissent– tactics also documented in the UN Fact-Finding Mission’s report on the crackdown on recent protests.
They praised the pivotal role of women and girls as the driving force behind change in Iran, acknowledging their leadership in both the protests and the organised opposition over decades.
Speakers also warned that the regime’s external threats are direct extensions of its suppression of women in Iran, which, coupled with a culture of impunity, have far-reaching global implications.
They called on the UK to adopt a firm policy that empowers women in their fight for democracy and isolates the regime, rather than appeasing it.
They urged the Government to immediately proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation as a key step in this firm policy.
Several speakers highlighted the role of the NCRI in challenging the regime, attributing its success to the leadership and active participation of women, as embodied in the ten-point democratic platform for Iran’s future, presented by Mrs. Rajavi. They stressed that the UK Government should endorse NCRI’s platform as a roadmap for a democratic republic in Iran, ensuring fundamental rights and a better future for the people of Iran.
In her video message to the meeting, Mrs. Rajavi, said:
“The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is a day to expose the misogynist dictatorship ruling Iran.
“Through various methods and tactics, they aim to limit the struggle of Iranian women to the issue of hijab, preventing it from becoming a fight for freedom and democracy for the entire society.
“The women of Iran are shouting: With the hijab or without it, onwards to the revolution. Their motto is ‘Women, Resistance, Freedom’.
“Khamenei, through repression, mass executions, warmongering and export of crises, seeks to prevent an uprising.
“Governments must no longer delay the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organisation.
“Despite [intensified censorship, arrests, and repression], people’s protests continue in workplaces and on the streets, including by nurses, retirees, and oil workers.
“Young women have joined the Resistance Units to end the ruling tragedy and overthrow the mullahs.
“Women are the force of change, and it is the Iranian woman who will ultimately bring down the velayat-e faqih regime.
“We have said and continue to say: No to compulsory hijab, no to compulsory religion, and no to compulsory government.
“Many years ago, the National Council of Resistance of Iran adopted a plan on the rights and freedoms of women in Iran.
“I expect the honourable UK lawmakers, especially my dear sisters in both houses of the Parliament, to protest against the arrests and imprisonment of women protesters in Iran and support their struggle against the regime.
“I further urge them to recognise the legitimacy of the struggle of the Iranian people for overthrowing the regime, and the just battle of the Resistance Units against the Revolutionary Guards.”
Co-president of the International Committee of Parliamentarians for a Democratic Iran (ICPDI), Bob Blackman CBE MP, said:
“We can not ignore the fact that the state sponsored, state sanctioned violence against women is the other side of the regime’s state terrorism, which now threatens Europe as well.
“If we fail to act, the regime will soon hold the world hostage with the nuclear bomb. Our government must reverse course.
“Today, we can speak with one voice and say … proscribe the IRGC in its entirety, confiscate their assets, and use them for the benefit of the Iranian people.
“We should also pursue legal accountability, taking the regime and its Supreme leader to the international court of justice over state sanctioned violence against women and the 1988 just as we did in the case of the Ukrainian airliner, the IGC shutdown over Tehran … four years ago.”
Rt Hon. Sir Roger Gale MP said:
“On this occasion, we pay huge tribute to the courage and tenacity of the women and the girls of Iran.
“It is … shocking that to date, the IRGC has not been proscribed by any government of the United Kingdom. It is way beyond time that that was done, and it has to be done.
“Maryam Rajavi in her speech in the European Parliament set out the ten-point plan very clearly. We all believe that it is a good plan. It is a road map to democracy. It is democratic and achievable and we need to see it implemented.”
Jim Shannon MP said:
“Iranian women and girls have long endured appalling abuses as international community looked the other way. The NCRI, Iranian activists, courageous individuals have exposed countless atrocities, including the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners.
“Today, women in Iran are leading an extraordinary movement for change. They inspire hope through their protests, through their resistance units, and it calls for a democratic future.
“Our government must … recognise the NCRI as a legitimate voice of the Iranian people.”
Co-president of the BCFIF, Prof Lord Alton of Liverpool, said:
“Women like Maryam Akbari Monfared, Iran’s longest serving and very brave female political prisoner, who has spent 15-years in prison only for seeking justice for her siblings who were executed during the 1980s and the 1988 massacre. She remained a symbol of rebellion, of hope, and commitment to secure justice for the regime victims and to hold it to account.
Maryam Akbari Monfared, Iran’s longest-serving female political prisoner, has endured 15 years in prison for seeking justice for her siblings executed in #1988Massacre. Her courage symbolizes hope, rebellion & the fight for accountability in the face of brutal repression. #Iran pic.twitter.com/ApHl1GXy0s
— APA-ICE (@APA_ICE) November 26, 2024
”This courage … reflects the broader determination of Iranian women even in the face of lethal violence.
“Madam Rajavi’s leadership and the resistance of Iranian women show the world that they are ready to bring about change and establish a free democratic republic in Iran.
“As Madam Rajavi emphasised in her recent speech in the European Parliament at a conference there last Wednesday, 20th November, the NCRI’s goal is not to seize power but to return it to the Iranian people.
“It has a clear plan for organising free and fair election and ensuring the transformation of power to the people’s elected representatives.
“The fight for Iran’s future is the most crucial geopolitical battle in the Middle East today with implications to global peace, regional stability and Europe’s security in Europe. Women are at the forefront challenging the regime with unwavering determination.
“Today, I urge the UK government to take decisive steps. Proscribe the IRGC. Recognise the NCRI as the democratic alternative for Iran.
“Together, we can ensure the Iranian people led by their brave women and girls succeed in building a free and just republic.”
Baroness Verma criticised the failure of the UN and the International Community to act against suppression of women and said:
“I would urge all cross-party parliamentarians in this place and in others … It is time that we actually backed our words with actions. I am a strongest advocate for women and girls, for their rights, human rights. We have all talked about [Mrs Rajavi’s] ten-point plan, which is for everyone.”
Rt Hon. Lord Spellar said:
“The Western leadership must realise that while they may be seeking de-escalation that is not the agenda of the regime, which actively seeks conflict and also the surrender to their distorted view, particularly, their misogynistic policy.
“Hoping that diplomacy alone will convince the regime to give up its tyranny is tantamount to expecting it to commit institutional suicide.
“The correct strategy is the opposite: to isolate the regime politically, diplomatically, and economically until it is forced to change its behaviour or, more preferable, is actually changed by the Iranian people, which we should support.”
Rt Hon. Lord Dholakia OBE said:
“Repression continues with mass arrests in execution and state violence to instil fear in this society.
“We were told Iran’s newly selected president was a moderate and prioritised people’s concern. However, 500 executions since he assumed office in August 2024 and more money for the IRGC tell you otherwise.”
Baroness O’Loan DBE said:
“[Madam Rajavi’s] leadership has inspired countless Iranian women to be the force for change in their country. NCRI offers an Iranian solution and provides a democratic alternative grounded in women’s leadership … , which the regime finds frightening.
“Our government must act to hold the regime accountable and to support women of Iran, and that includes the recognition of the right of Iran’s people to self-defence against oppression.
“Supporting our sisters in Iran is not only a moral imperative, but it’s strategically crucial. Engaging with the NCRI, with Madam Rajavi, is essential to advancing accountability and accelerating that democratic change.
“The violence against women in Iran will only end when the regime is replaced by a democratic government. Iranian women are leading this fight, and we will stand with them until Iran is free.”
NCRI UK Representative, Ms. Dowlat Nowrouzi, thanked the BCFIF and Members of Parliament for their valuable support and for standing with the Iranian people, especially the women, and the Resistance movement for many years and said:
“We continue our efforts because we have a commitment, not only to the Iranian women and Iranian people, but also the the wider world community.
“It is time now to … stop the policy of appeasement. Stop just having or tolerating impunity being enjoyed by these criminals and gangsters.
“It is time … the IRGC is blacklisted and having the mechanism of the snap-back sanctions to be reactivated.”
The Council of Europe’s Goodwill Ambassador for the Abolition of the Death Penalty, Bianca Jagger, said:
“The brave women of Iran who are now [a movement] Women, Resistance, Freedom. I am here to, lend you my solidarity and my support and to say, count on me, continue to campaign and denounce what is happening today in Iran and to support the brave women, the only women in the world who are fighting against a terrible and criminal dictatorship.”
Azadeh Zabeti, from the Anglo-Iranian Lawyers Association, who chaired the meeting, said in conclusion:
“The participation of all of you here reflects the broad and the united commitment to supporting Iranian women and girls as they courageously fight for the same values and freedoms that we cherish and quite frankly sometimes take for granted.
“We stand firm with the victims in their fight for justice and human rights in Iran as well as for accountability.”
Other speakers included: Baroness Foster of Oxton DBE; Lord Morrow; Lord Hacking; Dr Leyla Hannbeck, Liberal Democrat candidate in the last general election; William Powell, former Liberal Democrat MP; Councillor Robert Ward, Conservative Councillor; and Neda Zabeti, from the Anglo-Iranian youth community.
British Committee for Iran Freedom
26 November 2024
