Paris Hosts NCRI Rally, Celebrating Iran’s 1979 Anti-Monarchic Revolution and Vowing to Overthrow Clerical Regime

Paris, February 8, 2025 – Twenty Thousand Iranians gathered in Paris to mark the 46th anniversary of the 1979 anti-monarchical revolution and to call for the downfall of Iran’s ruling theocracy. The demonstrators, carrying banners with slogans such as “Death to the Oppressor, Be it the Shah or the Supreme Leader” and “Long Live the Iranian People’s Democratic Revolution”, rejected both monarchical and clerical rule, advocating for a democratic alternative. The event also paid tribute to fallen freedom fighters, particularly those who died resisting both regimes.

Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), delivered the keynote speech, emphasizing the Iranian people’s continuous struggle against dictatorship. “Yes, neither Shah nor Sheikh—long live the Iranian people’s democratic revolution!” she declared, as the crowd erupted in applause. Rajavi described the clerical regime as being at its weakest point, surrounded by domestic resistance, international pressure, and growing societal unrest. “Ali Khamenei once said, ‘If we don’t fight in Syria, we will have to fight in Tehran and Isfahan.’ Well, now they are losing Syria and Lebanon, and they are resorting to mass executions in Iran to maintain control.” She reaffirmed the NCRI’s commitment to a democratic republic, gender equality, and the separation of religion from the state while urging world powers to back the Iranian people’s aspirations instead of engaging with the Tehran regime.

Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt delivered a powerful speech, declaring 2025 as the year of transformation for Iran. “Just as Syria liberated itself from Bashar al-Assad, Iran will be free of the mullahs.” He warned about the Iranian regime’s nuclear ambitions and its attempts to manipulate international negotiations. “The mullahs’ regime tries to obtain nuclear weapons to threaten the West and to end the sanctions. The policy of appeasement must end.” He called for decisive action: “First, end the appeasement policy. Second, reimpose the UN Security Council’s six resolutions against the mullahs. Third, designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Finally, recognize the Iranian Resistance as the real representatives of the people of Iran.”

Former Colombian Senator Ingrid Betancourt highlighted the global fight against tyranny. “You who rally to support those who fight give us hope that Iran will be free.” She denounced the regime’s human rights abuses, particularly its hostage-taking tactics. “We have French citizens taken hostage by the regime as bargaining chips. We are here for the people on death row in Iran. We must stop these criminals ruling Iran.”