Iranians expressed their support for the “No to Execution Campaign” called by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the NCRI
Event
On November 16, 2024, Iranians gathered in Place Albertine in Brussels, to commemorate the anniversary of the 2019 uprising for freedom and democracy in Iran, during which over 1,500 protesters were killed by regime forces, primarily the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). This rally, organized by the supporters of the main Iranian opposition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), was part of a global movement in dozens of locations, with similar events held from November 14-16 in major cities across Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Participants called on the Belgian government to take decisive action against the Iranian dictatorship, including accountability for the ongoing wave of executions and blacklisting the IRGC, the main force behind repression at home as well as warmongering and terrorism abroad.
The rally highlighted the Iranian people’s ongoing struggle for freedom and human rights. Attendees demanded a new policy on Iran that ends the current approach of appeasement and addresses the atrocities committed against the Iranian people, particularly the recent surge in executions. In light of the regime’s brutalities and the increasing wave of executions, the protesters also called on Western governments to recognize the rights of the Iranian people to seek regime change.
Executions in Iran
Since the new regime’s President Masoud Pezeshkian took office in August, the regime has executed 461 individuals, including 25 women—an unprecedented figure in recent years and a 75% increase compared to the same period in 2023 under Ebrahim Raisi—underscoring the regime’s reliance on repression to maintain power.
Participants echoed slogans from the Iranian protests, such as “Down with dictatorship,” “Women, Resistance, Freedom,” and “Down with the oppressor, be it the Shah or the Supreme Leader.” The event featured speeches from activists and dignitaries, alongside exhibitions honoring the victims of repression in Iran and commemorating the heroes of the 2019 and 2022 uprisings.
Background
The November 2019 protests were ignited by a sudden gas price hike, leading to nationwide demonstrations in over 190 cities. The regime’s violent crackdown resulted in countless deaths, injuries, and over 12,000 arrests, with security forces employing lethal tactics against unarmed civilians. Despite this brutality, the Iranian people’s fight for freedom persists.
This rally concluded at a critical time, emphasizing the Iranian regime’s destructive role in regional conflicts and the alarming rate of executions within the country.
Several Belgian media outlets reported this event: Lalibre, DH, MSN