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International Conference Calls for Democratic Change in Iran
An international conference under the banner ‘Onward to a Democratic Republic’ was held on 17 May at the headquarters of the Iranian opposition coalition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), near Paris. The event brought together a high-level British parliamentary delegation, European and international dignitaries, and representatives of the Iranian diaspora to express solidarity with the Iranian people’s democratic aspirations.
Khamenei’s Corrupt Dictatorship Fuels Six Devastating Crises Pushing Iranians to the Brink – OpEd
The corrupt and plundering dictatorship of Iranian regime has plunged Iran into poverty, misery, and anger. Inflation, water and power outages, and meager wages have pushed millions of Iranians to their limits, and the deafening alarms of “dire conditions” and the prospect of “great turmoil” by regime officials are sounding louder than ever within the regime.
The poverty line has reached “470 to 500 million rials” per month, and “it can be said that 90% of the Iranian people are poor,” and “more than 45 million Iranians with minimum wage are 4 times below the poverty line,” according to Andisheh No, a regime-affiliated publication.
International Conference Calls for Democratic Change in Iran
An international conference under the slogan ‘Towards a Democratic Republic’ was held at the headquarters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the Iranian opposition coalition, located on the outskirts of Paris.
The event brought together a prominent British parliamentary delegation, as well as European and international dignitaries and representatives of the Iranian diaspora, with the aim of showing their solidarity with the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people.
MEK Supporters Demonstrate in Berlin, to Protest Iran’s Executions and Repression
Berlin, Germany – May 17, 2025 – Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally and exhibition at the Brandenburg Gate to protest the Iranian regime’s escalating human rights violations, with particular focus on the death sentences imposed on political prisoners.
Participants demanded the immediate cancellation of these death sentences and the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Iran. They condemned the regime’s ongoing repression and voiced strong support for the Iranian people’s struggle for democratic change.
International Conference in Paris Bolsters Call for New Iran Policy, Backs NCRI as Democratic Alternative
On Saturday, May 17, Paris became the center of international attention as prominent parliamentarians and political figures from across Europe and Canada gathered to discuss key developments in Iran policy. The event, centered on the theme of fostering democratic change in Iran, featured a keynote address by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the NCRI, and underscored a growing international consensus for a firmer stance against the Iranian regime and support for its democratic opposition.
Female Political Prisoners in Evin Chant Against the Death Penalty
Female political prisoners in the women’s ward of Tehran’s Evin Prison joined the nationwide campaign “No to Executions Tuesdays,” again, on May 20, 2025, raising their voices in protest against the death penalty.
During this act of resistance, the prisoners chanted slogans such as:
“Evin women’s ward, united in solidarity, standing strong until executions are abolished,”
“We swear by the blood of our comrades, we will stand until the end,”
and “Political prisoners must be freed.”
Systematic Repression of the Iranian People During the 2022 Uprising
On May 5, 2025, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, the Chief Justice of the ruling regime in Iran, made an unprecedented admission: nearly 90,000 criminal cases were filed during the 2022 nationwide uprising. This acknowledgment not only confirms the regime’s brutal crackdown but also serves as undeniable evidence of the scale and severity of the regime’s crimes against a population demanding freedom. While intended to justify repression, this statement inadvertently exposes the machinery of an orchestrated campaign of state violence.
This report, grounded in this admission and corroborated by other verified evidence, documents the full scope of the regime’s suppression during the 2022 uprising — from mass arrests and torture, to political executions, suspicious deaths in custody, and the systemic harassment of victims’ families.
Deteriorating Condition of Majid Roshan-Nejad in Greater Tehran Prison
Majid Roshan-Nejad, a political prisoner, is being held in Ward 4 of Greater Tehran Prison among inmates convicted of violent crimes, in clear violation of the principle of separation of prisoners based on their charges. He has reportedly been subjected to repeated physical assaults, death threats, and theft of personal belongings in this ward.
Roshan-Nejad is one of the defendants in the case known as the “Evin Prison Fire.” He was sentenced by Branch 1148 of Tehran’s Criminal Court No. 2 to six years in prison and 74 lashes for “destruction of public property,” 16 months in prison and 74 lashes for “disturbing prison order,” and another 16 months for “disobeying prison authorities.” These sentences were issued just one day after the court session and were later upheld by the appeals court, raising concerns over the impartiality of the judicial process.
Execution of at Least 5 Prisoners in Shiraz, Sabzevar, and Isfahan Prisons
In recent days, at least five prisoners have been executed in various prisons across Iran. These executions come as the recorded number of executions in the month of Ordibehesht 1404 (April–May 2025) has reached a shocking total of 119. This alarming statistic raises serious concerns about the escalating use of the death penalty in Iran.
Organized smuggling of home appliances in Iran
Iran’s current ban on the import of home appliances has turned into a driver of increased smuggling, supported by various state institutions and major domestic manufacturers. The ban was implemented under the directive of the Iranian regime’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, allegedly to support domestic production.
According to data from Iran’s Headquarters for Combating Smuggling of Goods and Currency, the volume of home appliance smuggling in 2023 was estimated at around $2 billion. Some reports indicate that at least one-third of home appliances on the Iranian market have been smuggled into the country.
Iran’s Worsening Dust Storm Crisis: A Nationwide Environmental Catastrophe
In recent weeks, widespread dust storms have once again engulfed large parts of Iran, reaching even the central provinces of Qom, Alborz, and Tehran. What was once a recurring problem confined to border regions is now unfolding as a full-scale national crisis. The dust storms have forced the closure of schools and offices in several provinces—including Khuzestan, Ilam, Hamedan, Kerman, and Kermanshah—highlighting the scale and severity of the disaster.
Unlike previous years, this time the crisis is not limited to peripheral areas. Fine dust storms have advanced deep into the heart of the country, signaling a dangerous shift.
Iranian Retirees Rally Nationwide to Demand Justice
On Monday, May 18, 2025, Iranian retirees—representing a long-suffering and hardworking segment of society—once again turned the streets of various cities into a powerful stage of protest against injustice and state-sponsored plunder. From Tehran to Kermanshah, Sanandaj, Ilam, Hamedan, Shiraz, Bijar in Kurdistan, Marivan, Gorgan, and Yazd, retirees took to the streets chanting, “Retirees, rise!” in defiance of the oppression and corruption of the Khamenei regime. These protests reflect the deep-seated anger of a people whose livelihoods are threatened by inflation, skyrocketing prices, and exploitative economic policies.