Today, the international gathering of Iranians and supporters of Iranian Resistance will be held near Paris. Hundreds of senior former officials, lawmakers, and prominent personalities from more than 50 countries in five continents are in attendance.
Hundreds of international dignitaries, senior former officials, and lawmakers, are expected to attend the Free Iran Rally – 2018 as the Iranian people continue their uprising against the Iranian regime.
The Iranian Resistance’s annual Free Iran Rally in Paris will begin shortly. This page will be continuously updated throughout the day. Tens of thousands are expected to call for a Free Iran (#FreeIran2018) and reject the regime’s extremist policies.
The participants at the #FreeIran2018 rally in Paris are expressing support for the nationwide uprising of the Iranian people, including the Bazaar merchants who have risen up recently against the regime’s corrupt policies.
More than 200 members of the British parliament expressed support for the #FreeIran2018 rally and the Iranian people’s uprising against the clerical regime. They called on the British government and the international community to recognize the NCRI as the democratic alternative. They also supported Madame Rajavi’s 10-point plan for the future of Iran, which calls for the establishment of a free, democratic, non-nuclear secular republic in Iran.
More than 50 bishops of the Church of England signed a statement this month condemning the human rights abuses perpetrated by the regime in Tehran and its treatment of Iran’s religious minorities.
The majority of San Marino’s parliament recently declared their solidarity with the people of Iran in their uprising.
Today’s Free Iran Rally in Paris calling for democratic change in Iran has been supported by current and former Iranian political prisoners in various Iranian jails.
Reporting live from the scene of the huge gathering of the Iranian opposition. #FreeIran2018. Every year Iranian and international supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and its President-elect Maryam Rajavi, gather in Paris to protest against the regime and call for a free, democratic, secular, peaceful, and non-nuclear Iran.
To prepare the hall for the event, many Iranian opposition, MEK, and NCRI supporters have been working hard at the scene from the early morning hours.
Huge crowds are gathering at the entrance of the Villepinte exhibition center; Long queues forming, with thousands waiting to attend the #FreeIran2018 rally.
Hundreds wave Iranian flags and hold banners outside the Villepinte exhibition center in support of opposition leader Maryam Rajavi and her 10-point plan for a future #FreeIran2018. Cheerful opposition supporters join voices with Iran protests against the regime.
Huge turnout as Iranians, young and old, and their international supporters poured into Villepinte exhibition centre from around the world. Hundreds of international political personalities and lawmakers are attending.
The #FreeIran2018 rally, with hundreds of international dignitaries, has just commenced in Paris. Thousands of Iranians will call for a free Iran in support of the uprising and Bazaar merchants and demonstrators.
International personalities at the #FreeIran2018 rally include Rudy Giuliani, Newt Gingrich, Bill Richardson, Michael Mukasey, and Louis Freeh. The gathering of thousands of Iranians will call for a free, democratic, secular, and non-nuclear #Iran. The keynote speaker is Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
FreeIran Gathering 2018 in Paris.
All times in local time.
20.16 Ramesh, Burgdorf, and Taylor closed the conference and brought the Iranian youth delegations from around the world to the stage.
Delegation of 320 representatives of Iranian Associations in Europe & US
13:45: The delegation of French mayors took the stage, represented by Jean-Francois Legaret, Mayor of the 1st district of Paris, to show solidarity with the Free Iran Gathering.
Legaret: “To all the distinguished guests from all over the world, we want to welcome you to France: the land of human rights. We have decided to support the Iranian Resistance and its relentless effort to install democracy in Iran. There are over 40,000 of us who have supported you in the past years and we will continue to support you until you are victorious and Maryam Rajavi becomes President. Here 10-point plan, based on democracy and gender equality, is something that we all support.”
“The uprisings in Iranian cities that we have seen since the beginning of the year show that there is going to be a change in Iran, as recognized by the Iranian people and the world.”
“Soon may come the day when Maryam Rajavi will see a FreeIran.”
13.20: Alex Taylor, Welcome to the FreeIran Gathering 2018. This is one of the largest events organized by the Iranian diaspora. My name is Alex Taylor and I am happy to welcome you to this unique event.
Anette Burgdorf, journalist. I am very pleased to be in front of you and see the energy of the FrreIran movement. Let’s keep this up for the whole event. We have many dignitaries with us today, whose speeches will be translated into many different languages. Welcome to the Delegation of Iranian Experts.
Ramesh Sepehrrad, the advisory board member of the Iranian-American Community, began by addressing the Iranian people in Farsi and welcoming them to the event. On the 30 anniversary of the 1988 Massacre, we gather.
Delegations of Iranian experts, headed by Dr Jahansouz of the NCRI:
Dear fellow citizens, this event is to celebrate a Free Iran. The recent events have caused the Regime to tremble and the past few days have shown that the Resistance is strong. It proved wrong the theocracy that tried to deny the protest movement in Iran. These protest movements have been unprecedented. The economy has dropped, there is corruption and the wealth of the people has been stolen by the Regime.
The people of Iran have only one wish: to overthrow the regime. They are saying that they are done with Khamenei and they are rejecting the Regime. They are clear they want a change in the Regime. The real change to the regime is the one that has been fighting for democracy in Iran for 40 years, against the Shah and Khamenei. The Iran Resistance will provide change to Iran and bring happiness to the Iranian people.
Then, a video clip about the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners, mainly members of the MEK was played, was aired, highlighting the Regime’s crimes against humanity. It is powerful and moving.
Alex Taylor then asked the crowd to stand and applaud the martyred MEK members and ensure that their memories are not forgotten.
13.20: Alex Taylor, Anette Burgdorf, Ramesh Sepehrrad, and Massoud Kalanion on stage to start the #FreeIran2018 rally for freedom and democracy in Iran.