A coalition of prominent international figures have announced their solidarity with thousands of Iranians expected to hold a Free Iran March in Paris on 8 February 2025. The demonstration aims to reject the current dictatorship in Iran and advocate for the establishment of a democratic republic. Distinguished figures who have endorsed the rally have added their names to the following statement:
Statement of Solidarity with a Free Iran
On the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 revolution, we stand firmly with the courageous Iranian people in their struggle to end the religious dictatorship and establish a truly democratic and secular republic.
Through their nationwide uprisings, the people of Iran have clearly demonstrated their desire for an end to the current regime. We denounce the clerical dictatorship for its oppressive governance and human rights abuses, and we also reject the dictatorship of the former Shah, acknowledging the suffering under both regimes.
We support the major demonstration planned in Paris on February 8th, where the voices of Iranians will resound with the message: “No to the Dictator, be it the Shah or the Mullahs, Yes to a Democratic Republic.” We endorse the 10-point plan of Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which in 2024 received support from over 4,000 MPs and 137 former world leaders, as a viable blueprint for a future free Iran.
We call upon governments worldwide to recognise the Iranian people’s right to self-determination and liberation from tyranny. The time for change is now; the people of Iran deserve freedom, justice, and democracy.
Partial list of signatories:
Guy Verhofstadt — Former Prime Minister, Belgium
Anneli Jäätteenmäki — Former Prime Minister, Finland
Geir H. Haarde — Former Prime Minister, Iceland
Petre Roman — Former Prime Minister, Romania
Jaume Bartumeu-Cassany — Former Prime Minister, Andorra
Yulia Tymoshenko — Former Prime Minister, Ukraine
Janez Janša — Former Prime Minister, Slovenia
Carlo Cottarelli — Former Prime Minister-Designate, Italy
Giuseppe Maria Morganti — Former Captain Regent, San Marino
Joseph Muscat — Former Prime Minister, Malta
Avdullah Hoti — Former Prime Minister, Kosovo
John Baird — Former Foreign Minister, Canada
Dick Spring — Former Foreign Minister, Ireland
Anatol Șalaru — Former Defence Minister, Moldova
Ignazio Marino — Former Mayor of Rome, Italy
Nicola Renzi — Former Foreign Minister, San Marino
Tonio Borg — Former Foreign Minister, Malta
Jan-Erik Enestam — Former Secretary-General of the Nordic Council; Former Defence Minister, Finland
Thomas E. Garrett — Former Secretary General of Community of Democracies (CoD), United States
Audronius Ažubalis — Former Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE; Former Foreign Minister, Lithuania
Maria Celeste Cardona — Former Justice Minister, Portugal
Rowan Williams — Former Archbishop of Canterbury, United Kingdom
Nicolas Walder — Member of Parliament, Switzerland
Ellen Samyn — Member of Parliament, Belgium
Milan Zver — Member of the European Parliament, Slovenia
Amb. Ken Blackwell — Former US Ambassador to the UN Commission on Human Rights, United States
Tony Clement PC — Former Minister of Industry, Canada
Amb. Mitchell Reiss — Former Director of Policy Planning, State Department, United States
Robert Torricelli — Former US Senator, United States
Louis J. Freeh — Former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States
Bob Blackman — Member of Parliament, United Kingdom
Gerard Craughwell — Member of the Senate, Ireland
Amb. Lincoln P. Bloomfield Jr. — Former Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs, United States
Matej Tonin — Former Deputy Prime Minister, Slovenia
5 February 2025, UPDATE:
Elio Di Rupo — Former Prime Minister, Belgium
Enda Kenny — Former Prime Minister, Ireland
Kimmo Sasi — Former President of the Nordic Council, Finland
Juku-Kalle Raid — Member of Parliament, Estonia
Karmen Joller — Member of Parliament, Estonia
Erna Hennicot-Schoepges — Former President of the Chamber of Deputies, Luxembourg
6 February 2025, UPDATE:
Gabrielius Landsbergis — Former Foreign Minister, Lithuania
Jeppe Kofod — Former Foreign Minister, Denmark
Alexandru Athanasiu — Former Prime Minister, Romania
Amb. Theodore Sedgwick — Former US Ambassador to Slovakia, United States
Marcin Święcicki — Former Mayor of Warsaw
7 February 2025, UPDATE:
Jean Claude Juncker — Former President of the European Commission; Former Prime Minister, Luxembourg
Mario Frick — Former Prime Minister, Liechtenstein
Villy Søvndal — Former Foreign Minister, Denmark
Amb. Robert Joseph — Former US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security