Iranians Rally Across The World Calling For End To Islamic Republic

Iranians have once again staged mass rallies in dozens of cities across the world calling for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic.

Pursuant to calls to hold a global rally against the Islamic Republic on Saturday, which coincided with the anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979, dozens of cities around the world witnessed protests against the regime.

Iranians from various European cities traveled to the French capital Paris to express their anger at the brutalities of Iran’s rulers against unarmed civilian protesters.

A number of politicians, artists and family members of people killed by the Islamic Republic, participated in the gathering.

Danial Ilkhanipour, a German-Iranian member of the Hamburg city parliament, said, "We are here today to announce that the last five months were just the beginning and it was the beginning of the end of the Islamic Republic."

This representative of young Iranians who have become full-fledged European citizens and politicians added, "We will be in Brussels on February 20."

Alireza Akhundi, a member of the Swedish parliament, also spoke at the Paris rally, saying, "44 years ago a bitter incident happened in this city, and today we are all together and united for the revolution of the brave people of Iran."

He was referring to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s return to Iran from Paris, where he had found refuge after leaving Iraq. Days after Khomeini’s return his followers took over the government.

"Until the victory, the brave people of Iran will stand without fear,” he added.

Ramin Seyed-Emami a musician and composer known by the stage name "King Raam", performed a song at the gathering of Iranians in Paris.

His father Kavous Seyed-Emami was an Iranian-Canadian academic and conservationist. He ran the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation (PWHF) and was a sociology professor. In February 2018, he died days after being arrested by the IRGC intelligence. Iran's judiciary said that he killed himself in Tehran’s Evin Prison because of the evidence against him in a spying case. This claim, including the alleged suicide, has been rejected by his family.

The ministry of intelligence later said that there was no evidence against him and several other environmentalists arrested in January 2018.

Ramtin Fatehi, son of Ramin Fatehi, who was killed during the anti-regime protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, also spoke about the necessity of filing a lawsuit against the Islamic Republic for its brutality.

Niaz Zam, daughter of Ruhollah Zam, who was kidnapped and killed by the regime said, "We only want one thing, and that is the end of the Islamic Republic, which calls itself a republic but is actually a dictatorship."

Best known for operating a Telegram channel named 'Amadnews', which he founded in 2015, Ruhollah Zam played a high-profile role in the 2017–2018 Iranian protests. He was kidnapped while visiting Iraq and taken to Iran where he was sentenced to death and was executed on 12 December 2020.

Iranians living in London also held a gathering and chanted slogans in support of the move to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization.

A large protest was also held in Washington DC.

Similar protests were held in Oslo, Bologna, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Nicosia, Copenhagen, Aarhus, Vienna, Sofia, Madrid, Istanbul, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaid, Perth, Brisbane, Auckland, Stockholm, and Gutenberg.

In the past days, activists called on diaspora Iranians to participate in the anti-regime protests on Saturday. Dozens of Iranian artists living abroad also stated that they would take part in these gatherings with the slogan of overthrowing the Islamic Republic.

Exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi also called on all his compatriots to make this event "the most glorious day in the calendar of the Iranian national uprising" with showing solidarity and unity.