On November 27, 2024, prominent French parliamentarians, political leaders, and human rights advocates convened in Paris to discuss the urgent need for a democratic transition in Iran. The conference, organized by the Parliamentary Committee for a Democratic Iran, emphasized regime change in Iran as a crucial step toward resolving the broader crises of terrorism and instability in the Middle East. Keynote speaker Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), outlined a comprehensive plan for dismantling the current regime’s stranglehold on Iran and supporting a free, democratic future.
In her address, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi underlined the global political misstep of disregarding the Iranian Resistance and called for decisive action against the regime’s terrorism and human rights abuses.
“On five occasions over the past 15 years, the majority of French parliamentarians have expressed their support for the Iranian Resistance,” Mrs. Rajavi stated. “Alongside thousands of other parliamentarians worldwide, they have emphasized that disregarding the Resistance constitutes a significant political blunder. Yet, unlike the elected representatives of the European people, official policies have taken a different path.”
Rajavi highlighted the NCRI’s role as a viable democratic alternative, rejecting claims that no such option exists. She detailed the coalition’s platform, which prioritizes gender equality, autonomy for ethnic minorities, and a secular, non-nuclear Iran that promotes peace in the Middle East.
She also called attention to the human toll of inaction, with over 850 executions carried out in Iran this year alone. “Granting impunity to this regime of execution and massacre perpetuates its reign of terror,” the NCRI President-elect emphasized.
Mrs. Rajavi urged European nations to back this movement by adopting firm policies, including the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization and the reinstatement of sanctions to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. She concluded her remarks by reiterating her vision for a free Iran: “The Iranian people and their Resistance offer the world a clear alternative: a democratic, secular, and peaceful Iran.”
The religious dictatorship and its allies claim that there is no alternative. This is an outright lie. The solution lies in the overthrow of this regime by the Iranian people and their Resistance.
This goal is within reach, and here are its most critical components:#Iran… pic.twitter.com/ZhLl0Bcoh4— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) November 28, 2024
André Chassaigne, French MP and President of the GDR group, emphasized the importance of supporting the Iranian Resistance, highlighting Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as a roadmap for a free and democratic Iran.
“I have often said, and I reiterate, it is the Ten-Point Plan proposed by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi that has inspired my enduring commitment,” he stated.
Chassaigne praised the courage of the Resistance Units inside Iran, calling them a tangible force against oppression. “It is imperative that we recognize their bravery and the people’s natural right to resist oppression,” he added.
He urged France to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization and impose stricter sanctions, concluding, “The time has come to support the Iranian people’s quest for a free, democratic, and secular Iran.”
Bruno Macé, Mayor of Villiers-Adam, highlighted the strong support for the Iranian Resistance from French local leaders. “The mayors are with you,” Macé affirmed, announcing that the Committee of French Mayors for a Democratic Iran, alongside the Human Rights Committee for Iran, has garnered the backing of 650 mayors across France for its appeal titled “No to Executions in Iran.”
He cited alarming statistics from Amnesty International, noting that Iran accounted for 74% of recorded executions worldwide in 2023, a trend that has intensified under the current regime. Macé also referenced the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners, which the UN Special Rapporteur recently labeled a genocide and a crime against humanity.
Macé emphasized the mayors’ endorsement of Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, particularly its commitment to abolishing the death penalty. “We support your call to end executions in Iran and your steadfast commitment to justice and democracy,” he concluded.
The religious dictatorship and its allies claim that there is no alternative. This is an outright lie, and the Iranian people, along with parliamentarians around the world, have proven otherwise.
The regime and its allies argue that Iran’s territory will be partitioned! This is… pic.twitter.com/YN3I6W5zLU— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) November 27, 2024
MP Christine Arrighi, Vice President of the Parliamentary Committee for a Democratic Iran, spoke of her personal connection to the struggle of Iranian women. “Wherever women’s rights are violated, human rights are violated. And where women’s rights are trampled, all public freedoms suffer under dictatorship,” she stated.
She expressed admiration for the bravery of Iranian women who fight against oppression, often at great personal risk. “When I see these women standing up, knowing they may face death, I see my own daughter—a feminist at heart—and I think, if we were in their place, we would fight as well,” Arrighi shared, her voice filled with emotion.
Arrighi commended the activists tirelessly advocating for change in front of the French Parliament, calling them “fighters of Paris.” She praised their dedication to spreading Maryam Rajavi’s vision, stating, “In this long and dark tunnel of dictatorship, you have planted seeds of hope with a clear plan for Iran’s democratic future. The Iranian people deserve a vibrant democracy, and they are waiting for you.”
She concluded with hope for a swift resolution, saying, “I hope my time as Vice President of this committee will be short because that will mean you have returned to your country to reclaim its future.”
Dominique Attias, President of the Board of Directors of the European Lawyers Foundation, delivered a passionate speech highlighting the plight of Iranian women and political prisoners under the oppressive regime.
“The situation of women and girls in Iran is intolerable, and we cannot look away from their courage, which compels us to act,” Attias declared. She underscored the systemic violence against women, noting that Iran accounted for 74% of global executions in 2023, with numerous victims being women subjected to brutal treatment.
Attias drew attention to the case of Maryam Akbari Monfared, a political prisoner incarcerated since 2009. “Her crime? Family ties to regime opponents. She has endured solitary confinement and false charges of ‘enmity against God,’ all after a sham trial lasting just 15 minutes,” Attias said. Despite being due for release in 2019, Akbari Monfared’s sentence was arbitrarily extended, reflecting the regime’s pattern of oppression.
She also highlighted the atrocities faced by women activists and members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), many of whom were executed or imprisoned after perfunctory trials. “The 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners, mostly PMOI members, was rightly called a genocide and a crime against humanity by the UN Special Rapporteur,” she noted.
Attias called for decisive action: “We demand the release of Maryam Akbari Monfared and all political prisoners. Let us stand with them, support their fight, and echo their rallying cry: Women, Resistance, Freedom.”
Regime change in Iran – the key to the Middle East crisis#Paris conference with Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi #FreeIran #Iran pic.twitter.com/79ZWmhz4cg
— Firouz Mahvi (@FirouzMahvi) November 27, 2024
Hervé Saulignac, Vice President of the Parliamentary Committee for a Democratic Iran, denounced the Iranian regime’s systematic violations of human rights and reaffirmed support for the Iranian Resistance. “The public executions, now numbering over 800 this year alone, are a brutal tool of terror used by a regime that tramples on fundamental human dignity,” Saulignac stated. He highlighted the courage of Iran’s youth and Resistance Units, noting their organized and determined opposition to the regime.
He dismissed any illusions about reform within the regime, describing its political pluralism as a “sham” and urging a firm stance against its oppressive policies. “Supporting the regime’s president would betray the deep and legitimate aspirations of the Iranian people,” he emphasized.
The French MP also condemned the regime’s practice of hostage diplomacy, citing the plight of three French citizens imprisoned in Iran. “Our response must be firm and unwavering. We must isolate this regime, support the democratic opposition, and protect defenders of human rights,” he said.
He stressed the importance of international accountability for the regime’s crimes. “The leaders of the Iranian regime must one day answer before the International Criminal Court,” Saulignac declared, calling on all French parliamentarians to take moral and universal responsibility in supporting Iran’s democratic future.
“We stand with the Iranian people until the day freedom triumphs over tyranny,” he concluded.
Jean-Pierre Brard :
Alors que la perspective d'une alternative est ouverte aujourd'hui en Iran grâce à l'OMPI et au CNRI et les 10 propositions portées par Maryam Radjavi, au prix du sang versé, il faut empêcher qu'elle ne soit confisquée, en raison de compromissions et… pic.twitter.com/mZG4x50Z36— CNRI-France (@CNRIFrance) November 27, 2024
Jean-François Legaret, President of the Middle East Studies Foundation (FEMO) and former Mayor of Paris District 1, praised French parliamentarians for their unwavering support of the Iranian Resistance, emphasizing their commitment to democratic values. “What reigns in Iran today is barbarity—only a democratic, secular republic can replace this theocratic regime,” Legaret said.
He highlighted the intensifying repression in Iran, noting that public executions have risen by 85% under the new president. “The regime’s brutality targets supporters of the PMOI because it knows this movement represents the political alternative it fears most,” Legaret stated.
Legaret detailed the regime’s focus on suppressing Resistance Units, describing them as organized networks that are “undeterred by repression, with deep roots across Iran’s cities and provinces.” He underscored the regime’s fear of popular rebellion, calling it their “obsession and greatest nightmare.”
“The regime is weakened and decaying, but it fears not foreign interventions—it fears the Iranian people’s uprising and the establishment of a republican Iran,” Legaret asserted. He concluded with a call to action: “We must mobilize, alongside parliamentarians and mayors of France, to ensure this despotic regime is overthrown by the Iranian people, and that democracy and freedom prevail.”
. @hsaulignac : C'est avec gravité que je vais évoquer la situation des droits de l'homme en Iran. Ce pays est depuis trop longtemps le théâtre d'une répression implacable. Les exécutions sont devenues un des instruments les plus brutaux de cette répression/#StopExecutionInIran pic.twitter.com/KnG9jSKSLw
— CNRI-France (@CNRIFrance) November 27, 2024
Jean-Pierre Brard, former French MP and member of the Parliamentary Committee for a Democratic Iran, passionately emphasized the need for unwavering support for the Iranian Resistance and Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan.
“There is a majority for a democratic Iran—across political lines, beyond ideologies—because we share the values of human rights and freedom,” Brard stated. He praised the committee’s commitment to pluralism and solidarity, calling it a continuation of France’s revolutionary legacy.
The former MP warned against the risks of compromises with the regime, particularly by governments tempted by economic or political interests. “Let us not be naive. Some behind the scenes are working for an alternative that would merely replace one tyranny with another,” he cautioned. He likened such efforts to a cuckoo bird stealing the nest built with the sacrifices of the Iranian people, urging vigilance against any attempts to undermine the Resistance.
He celebrated the unique role of the PMOI in challenging the regime. “The regime fears the PMOI because it knows they are the real political alternative,” Brard affirmed, adding that their struggle has been paid for in blood by the brave Resistance Units across Iran.
Reiterating the Iranian people’s right to self-determination, Brard said, “It is not even the PMOI that will decide Iran’s future—it is the Iranian people, through free elections. This is what makes the Ten-Point Plan so essential: it guarantees a democratic future where Iranians choose their own path.”
He concluded by recognizing the sacrifices of the Iranian Resistance, particularly the women leading the struggle. “The Iranian people will gain their rightful place in the world through their courage and sacrifice,” he declared, urging continued solidarity until the regime is overthrown.
.@AttiasDominique
30.000 prisonniers politiques, pour la plupart des militants et militantes de l'OMPI. Ils ont été pendus dans le #1988Massacre. C'est l'objet du rapporteur spécial de l'ONU sur les droits de l'homme en Iran. Le Pr Javai Rehman n'a pas hésité à qualifier ce… pic.twitter.com/E1lF2DNZrq— CNRI-France (@CNRIFrance) November 27, 2024
Philippe Gosselin, French MP and Vice President of the Parliamentary Committee for a Democratic Iran, emphasized the critical role of the Iranian Resistance in paving the way for democracy and stability in Iran and the wider region.
“We reaffirm tonight, as always, our unwavering support for the cause of a free Iran,” Gosselin stated. He highlighted the brutal repression of the regime, noting that over 800 executions have been carried out this year, including 19 women. “The so-called ‘moderation’ of the new president is exposed by these horrifying figures,” he remarked.
Gosselin praised the Resistance Units for their courageous role in breaking the “wall of fear” imposed by the regime. “Thousands of Resistance Units are spreading the culture of revolt, proving that the Iranian people refuse to accept this theocracy,” he said.
He also underscored the importance of international action, calling for the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization by the European Union and targeted sanctions against the regime. “This regime’s repression and destabilizing actions are incompatible with regional and global peace,” he added.
Gosselin concluded by endorsing Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, describing it as a vision that embodies liberty, equality, and fraternity, values closely aligned with France’s republican ideals. “The path forward for Iran is clear: democracy, human rights, and justice. Together, we will ensure that the flame of resistance never goes out,” he affirmed.
Jean-François Legaret, Président de la Fondation d'études pour le Moyen-Orient (FEMO), et Bruno Macé, Maire de Villiers-Adam, à la conférence à Paris ce 27 novembre "Iran: changement de régime, clé de la crise au Moyen-Orient" en présence de Maryam Radjavi, de parlementaires et… pic.twitter.com/vUsvocGO8U
— CNRI-France (@CNRIFrance) November 27, 2024
Senator Samantha Cazebonne shared a heartfelt account of her personal connection to the Iranian cause, inspired by a moving encounter with a young Iranian woman in Paris. She expressed admiration for the resilience of Iranian women, calling them “incredibly brave” and noting their critical role in the struggle for democracy. “You deserve freedom and justice more than anyone after all these years of suffering. I will continue to support you in every way I can, including by bringing your voices into the Senate and convincing other senators to join this fight,” she promised.
Cazebonne concluded by encouraging solidarity and awareness of the Iranian people’s struggle, urging others to engage and spread the message of hope and resistance. “You can count on me,” she affirmed.
Senator Vincent Louault expressed deep solidarity with the Iranian Resistance, emphasizing the urgent need for change in Iran. “In a world undergoing tectonic shifts, Iran is at the heart of this change, desperately needing liberation from an oppressive and shameful regime,” Louault stated.
He praised Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, describing it as a democratic vision that inspires hope for Iran’s future. “It is a source of pride to support these ten points and to work toward the day we can visit a democratic Iran—not for business, but to offer France’s full and benevolent support,” he said.
Louault highlighted the ongoing effort to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, referencing a resolution initiated in the French Senate. He emphasized that Iran’s liberation is key to resolving broader global issues, including its destabilizing proxy activities.
As an agricultural professional, Louault also expressed optimism about future cooperation between a free Iran and France, focusing on rebuilding the nation’s economy and fostering peace. “I am proud to stand by you, and I will do everything during my term to defend this cause,” he concluded.
