In a conference held in the city of Turin, Italian human rights advocates, labor groups, and civil society organizations came together to denounce the Iranian regime’s execution spree and express support for the Iranian people’s democratic aspirations. The event, hosted by the Free and Democratic Iran Association in collaboration with Italy’s National Association of Partisans and the local branch of the National Trade Union Confederation (CGIL), underscored growing European unease over Tehran’s escalating repression.
The speakers raised alarm over Iran’s staggering execution rate—by some estimates accounting for 75% of the world’s total in the past year—and demanded concrete international measures to hold Tehran accountable. Central to the conference was strong support for the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and its President-elect, Maryam Rajavi, with several speakers highlighting the organized Resistance as a viable democratic alternative to the ruling theocracy.
Organizers characterized Iran’s clerical regime as being in a state of profound internal crisis, citing its deteriorating regional influence and increasing recourse to mass executions as signs of desperation. The gathering portrayed the NCRI’s political program—especially its call for abolition of the death penalty, gender equality, and separation of religion and state—as not just aspirational but urgently needed in the current political climate.
Human rights advocate Gianni Sartorio emphasized the longevity and consistency of the Iranian Resistance, noting that its persistence over decades—despite massacres and exile—has earned it legitimacy and relevance. The recent waves of anti-regime protests in Iran were cited as proof that the domestic population is increasingly aligned with these values.
Laura Pompeo, an official from the Piedmont regional government, condemned Iran’s human rights record and referenced efforts within the regional council to formally adopt a resolution against capital punishment in Iran. She expressed hope that Iranian youth, especially women involved in the Resistance, would play a leading role in the country’s transformation.
Other speakers echoed this sentiment, with Amnesty International’s regional coordinator Luca Andriani underlining that the Iranian regime’s judiciary remains far removed from international legal standards. He pointed to systemic abuses ranging from gender discrimination to religious persecution, as well as the use of hostage diplomacy, as symptoms of a regime incapable of reform.
Several participants emphasized the need for Western governments to abandon the failed policy of appeasement toward Tehran. The final speaker, Dr. Yousef Lassani, argued that Iran’s clerical regime, facing strategic setbacks in the Middle East and fearing growing resistance at home, is compensating with a campaign of terror and executions. He noted the spread of the PMOI-led Resistance Units operating inside the country as evidence of rising internal pressure.
Dr. Lassani described the NCRI’s Ten-Point Plan as a well-defined roadmap for post-regime Iran. He called on European democracies to formally recognize the Iranian people’s right to resist tyranny and to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. Echoing past statements from prominent international figures, he warned that continued economic and diplomatic engagement with the regime would only embolden its brutality.
The Turin conference follows similar events held across Europe in recent months, reflecting a broader trend of rising civil society and political engagement in support of the Iranian democratic movement. Organizers pledged to expand their campaign across Italian institutions, aiming to generate parliamentary backing for tougher European Union policies toward Tehran.
The event concluded with a strong reaffirmation of solidarity with the Iranian people, particularly women and youth, who continue to endure the regime’s crackdowns. Attendees agreed that the time had come for Europe to stand unambiguously with the forces of democratic change in Iran.