A strong message of support for democratic change in Iran came this week from Latin America, as 29 members of Costa Rica’s 57-seat parliament signed a joint declaration backing the Iranian people’s fight for freedom. The lawmakers endorsed the Ten-Point Plan of Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), and called for urgent international action against the Tehran regime’s escalating repression.
Titled “Iran 2025,” the declaration condemned the clerical regime’s brutal crackdown on dissent and its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons. It urged democratic governments to recognize the Iranian people’s right to resist tyranny and affirmed support for the Resistance Units tied to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
The lawmakers specifically called for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be designated a terrorist entity, citing its key role in both domestic repression and regional destabilization. “Appeasing a regime that relies on terrorism and nuclear threats undermines the values of democracy and endangers global security,” the statement warned.
The MPs expressed alarm at the worsening human rights crisis in Iran, including over 1,000 executions in 2024 and the regime’s passage of the repressive “Hijab and Chastity” bill, which harshens the crackdown on women who defy compulsory veiling laws. They also condemned the recent death sentences issued to nine political prisoners affiliated with the PMOI as a desperate attempt by the regime to crush organized resistance.
Highlighting the erosion of Tehran’s regional influence — from the weakening of Hezbollah to the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime — the lawmakers noted that the regime’s strategic pillars are collapsing. In this context, they emphasized the legitimacy of Iran’s democratic opposition.
Referring to the 2022 nationwide protests, the Costa Rican lawmakers affirmed that Iranians had rejected both monarchic and theocratic dictatorship in favor of a secular, democratic republic. With political avenues inside Iran completely closed off, they stressed that international recognition of the people’s right to resist is not only justified but necessary.
Central to their endorsement was Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, which outlines a democratic future for Iran built on pluralism, gender equality, the abolition of capital punishment, religious freedom, and a non-nuclear policy. The MPs stated: “This roadmap echoes the demands heard across Iran — ‘No to the compulsory hijab,’ ‘No to dictatorship,’ ‘No to executions,’ and ‘Yes to freedom.’”
They concluded with a powerful call to action: “Support for Iran’s democratic resistance is not just an Iranian issue—it’s a global responsibility.” The statement aligns with growing international support, including over 4,000 lawmakers and 100 former world leaders who endorsed Rajavi’s vision in 2024.
Former Costa Rican VP @anita_chae: Global Solidarity for #Iranian Women’s Resistancehttps://t.co/DP0NDR8a32
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 13, 2024
