Seven-Point Demand by 134 Political Prisoners, Activists, and Justice-Seeking Families to the World

Seven-Point Demand of 134 Activists, Political Prisoners, and Justice-Seeking Families to the International Community and Global Institutions

In the Name of Iran

With greetings to the pure and eternal souls of all who gave their lives on the path of Iran’s freedom — women and men, old and young — those who, by sacrificing their lives, kept the lamp of hope and freedom alight for the people of Iran, and whose names will remain forever eternal in the historical memory of this land.

We — a group of political and civil activists, political prisoners, justice-seeking families, those harmed in the nationwide protests, and human rights defenders inside the country — aware of our historic responsibility and on behalf of millions of freedom-seeking Iranians who seek the end of the Islamic Republic and the establishment of a government based on freedom, democracy, secularism, national sovereignty, and human dignity, issue this statement addressed to the United Nations, democratic governments, international bodies, and all the awakened consciences of the world.

This statement reflects the will of millions of Iranians who regard the Islamic Republic as devoid of any legitimacy and who believe that only the people of Iran have the right to determine the destiny of their country, and that no decision about the future of Iran should be made without the presence and will of the people’s true representatives.

Today Iran stands at one of the most critical and decisive junctures in its history. Thousands of innocent Iranians have lost their lives merely for demanding freedom, dignity, and the right to determine their own destiny, and millions of other citizens still live under the shadow of repression, execution, imprisonment, corruption, discrimination, and imposed poverty. The time has now come for the international community to hear the true voice of the people of Iran and to make the will of the Iranian nation the basis of any decision-making about the future of this country.

A regime that, in the course of bloody crackdowns, dragged thousands of Iran’s citizens into blood and dust has not only lost all legitimacy before the people of Iran; the international community also has a duty to stand alongside the people of Iran and to create the conditions for accountability and for the prosecution of those who ordered and carried out these crimes before international tribunals.

Today no part of the remaining structure of this regime holds any legitimacy before the people of Iran. The people of Iran have paid a heavy price to reach this point — a price paid with the lives of thousands of Iranian women and men, the young and the adolescent.

The great nation of Iran will not settle for anything less than the complete end of this illegitimate system and a transition to a government based on the will of the people. Therefore, the people of Iran must be at the center of every policy, decision, and action of the international community regarding the Islamic Republic.

Despite widespread repression, the systematic violation of human rights, and the killing of Iranian citizens, world powers — especially the United States of America — have continued to exclude the true representatives of the Iranian people and the principal opposition forces from many of the talks and consultations related to Iran’s future. This approach is not only at odds with the principles of democracy and the right of nations to self-determination, but also contributes to the continuation of the crisis and the suffering of the Iranian people.

The Islamic Republic does not represent the people of Iran. Any attempt to recognize this regime as a legitimate partner will only lead to the continuation of its survival, the intensification of the suffering of the Iranian nation, and the spread of instability in the region and beyond.

The recent protest events showed that a broad section of the people of Iran — by chanting the name of the Shahryar of Iran, His Royal Highness Prince Reza Pahlavi, in the streets and openly declaring their support for him — have expressed their demand for transition from the Islamic Republic and movement toward a free, democratic, and secular Iran. Therefore, the signatories of this statement regard His Royal Highness Prince Reza Pahlavi as their supported leader and a symbol of national unity for the transition period, and believe that any negotiation, understanding, agreement, or decision-making about the future of Iran conducted without his presence and participation and that of the other representatives supported by the people cannot reflect the will of a broad section of the Iranian nation and, in the view of the signatories of this statement, will not possess political and popular legitimacy.

A lasting peace is not achieved through concessions to a government that has lost its legitimacy and has built its survival on repression, imprisonment, execution, and violence. A lasting peace passes through respect for the will of the Iranian nation — a people who have stood firm to attain a free, democratic, secular, and human-rights-based Iran, and who have paid heavy costs.

We ask the international community, the United Nations, democratic governments, the European Union, human rights organizations, and all responsible international bodies to:

1. Recognize the people of Iran as the rightful owners of the right to determine the destiny of their country.
2. Prosecute and try those who ordered and carried out the crimes against the people of Iran before international tribunals on charges of crimes against humanity.
3. Refrain from any political and diplomatic legitimization of the Islamic Republic.
4. Recognize the true representatives of the Iranian nation and the pro-democracy forces in all consultations and decision-making related to the future of Iran.
5. Taking into account the standing and role of His Royal Highness Prince Reza Pahlavi as the leader supported by the signatories of this statement and a symbol of national unity for the transition period, refrain from any negotiation, understanding, or agreement about the future of Iran conducted without his participation and that of the other representatives supported by the people.
6. Take practical and effective measures to halt the machinery of repression, execution, violence, and terrorism of the Islamic Republic.
7. Supporting the people of Iran and standing against the structures of repression and terrorism of the Islamic Republic is the most effective path to achieving stability, security, and lasting peace in Iran, the region, and the world.

History has proven that no government relying on violence, repression, and killing has remained enduring forever. The future of Iran will be shaped not by the oppressors, but by the people of Iran — a people who, despite all the costs, still insist on freedom, justice, and national sovereignty.

On behalf of millions of freedom-seeking Iranians

Signatories:

Withheld for security reasons.