Freedom for Iran: Silence Is Not Neutrality

Public petition n°3923

Petitioner: Arman Zarrin

This petition is available in other languages:

We are following with grave concern the situation currently unfolding in Iran. We express our deepest empathy and unwavering solidarity with the people inside Iran, who are facing repression and violence for exercising their fundamental rights. We consider it our ethical and civic responsibility to convey the real and unfiltered message of them, whose collective will for regime change has been expressed openly and consistently through repeated nationwide protests. This moment represents a critical test for human rights activists, the media, and political leaders in free societies. Silence or inaction in the face of such crimes cannot be considered neutrality. We therefore call upon the Government of Luxembourg, the institutions of the European Union, the media, and the international community to: 1. Support the Iranian people in their movement and their clearly expressed will for fundamental political change away from the current Islamic Republic regime. 2. Ensure honest, independent, and impartial engagement with events in Iran, including the amplification of Iranian voices in the context of severe internet and communication shutdowns. 3. Clearly and decisively condemn the violent repression of the Iranian people, and also prepare and implement concrete political and diplomatic measures, in line with international human rights obligations, to pressure the regime to prevent further killings, halt repression, and end violence against protesters. 4. Formally recognize Prince Reza Pahlavi as the representative of the Iranian people during the transitional period and cooperate with him in accordance with internationally recognized human rights norms, democratic principles, and the right to self-determination. We urge all democratic governments and institutions to recognize the gravity of this moment and to act in accordance with their stated commitments to human rights, justice, and human dignity. Although we are outside Iran, our hearts and consciences are with the people inside the country, who continue to courageously demand their fundamental rights. We stand with them and echo their call: "Freedom, freedom, freedom." History will judge not only those who commit these crimes but also those who choose silence in the face of them.

Over the past 47 years, the people of Iran have repeatedly protested the ruling regime at different moments and over a wide range of demands. In every instance, instead of listening to the legitimate will of the people, the regime has responded with violent repression, mass arrests, torture, and executions for the simple act of demanding basic human rights. To prevent the world from witnessing its brutality, the regime has consistently shut down the internet and communication networks. This is not new. During the nationwide protests of November 2019, the Islamic Republic imposed a total internet blackout, and once access was restored, it became clear that more than 1,500 innocent people had been killed in the streets. These repeated experiences have demonstrated beyond doubt that the regime is unwilling and incapable of reform and that it responds to the people's demands only with violence and fear. In recent days, this long history of repression has culminated in a nationwide uprising involving millions of Iranians across the country. This movement is not merely another protest but a clear and unified demand for an end to the current regime. Despite severe internet shutdowns, mass arrests, and the killing of unarmed civilians, people have continued to take to the streets, demonstrating that the regime no longer derives authority from public consent or accountability but sustains itself solely through brute force. Following a call for unified and peaceful action by Prince Reza Pahlavi, the scale and determination of this uprising make one reality unmistakably clear: the Iranian people no longer seek reform within the existing system but demand a complete departure from it and a transition toward a democratic future. The persistence of the protests and the regime's violent response confirm that no other viable path remains.