“In this time of tragedy, we, the undersigned people of Iran, representing diverse communities and classes, holding diverse political and religious views, address our plea to the international community.”
London, 9 November 2023: Prominent representatives of Iranian civil and political society have today issued a declaration stating that the Islamic Republic in Iran is a hostile occupying force that does not represent the Iranian people, and suggesting that, without the removal of this regime, no peace is possible between Israel and Palestine.
The declaration is signed by prominent representatives of Iranian civil society: political parties and organisations, religious clerics, political prisoners, journalists, cultural figures, sportspeople, academics, members of the medical community, businesspeople, political and civil activists, and student representatives of universities in Iran. Personal copies have been sent to politicians and public figures in the democratic countries of the world, as well as in the United Nations.
The signatories state that the problems of the Middle East cannot be solved while the Islamic Republic in Iran continues to support terrorist groups dedicated to the overthrow of Israel and the international system. They invite the international community “to cease their dealings with the Islamic Republic, and to negotiate instead with Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s crown prince-in-exile”.
This declaration is supported by twelve civil-society organisations and institutions as well as 235 prominent figures. Since many individuals are at risk of immediate persecution, their names are not being publicly circulated.
Declaration
This is the passionate plea of the Iranian People.
SIGNED, this 24th day of October, 2023:
(Many individuals have taken great risks to add their signatures to this document. In the interests of their security, we are not circulating individual names in public. The list can be confidentially supplied on request.)
Political parties and organisations
Constitutional Youth Association – Iran (سازمان جوانان مشروطه)
Generation Z organisation – Iran (سازمان نسل زد)
Liberal Alumni Organisation – Iran (سازمان دانش آموختگان لیبرال)
Iran Novin Party – Iran and France (حزب ایران نوین)
Association of Promotion for Open Society [for Iran] – Germany (موسسه ترویج جامعه باز)
Association of Athletes for Freedom of Iran – Sweden (سازمان ورزشکاران آزادیخواه)
Association of [Iranian] Artists in Exile (Homa) – Germany (انجمن هنرمندان در تبعید)
Hope Society [for Iran] – Germany (موسسه امید)
Centre for Liberalism Studies [in Iran] – USA (مرکز مطالعات لیبرالیسم)
The Movement to Support the Struggles of the Iranian People – Canada
(جنبش حمایت از مبارزات ملت ایران)
Cyrus the Great Institute – Canada (اندیشکده کوروش بزرگ)
Anahita Association – Italy (سازمان فرهنگی اناهیتا)
Religious clerics
(One signature)
Political prisoners (former and current)
(Seventeen signatures)
Journalists
(Sixteen signatures)
Cultural figures
(Eleven signatures)
Sportspeople
(Thirty-one signatures)
Academics
(Eight signatures)
Members of the medical community
(Thirteen signatures)
Businesspeople
(Thirty-five signatures)
Political and civil activists
(Sixty-seven signatures)
Student representatives (currently, university students in Iran)
(Twenty-four signatures)
