UK Parliament’s Nowruz Gathering Calls for Accountability Against Iran’s Clerical Regime

Nowruz Gathering at the UK Parliament – April 2025Written by
Shamsi Saadati

In a Nowruz gathering held at the UK Parliament, members of both Houses of Parliament, including prominent lawmakers from the House of Commons and House of Lords, as well as representatives from Iranian communities in the UK, called for a firm policy against Iran’s clerical regime. The speakers urged the British government to officially designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization and hold the regime accountable for four decades of crimes against humanity.

The event featured messages of solidarity with the Iranian peopl

e’s ongoing struggle for freedom and support for Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan for a free and secular Iran.

Professor Lord David Alton, co-chair of the British Committee for Iran Freedom, sent a message emphasizing that the struggle for freedom in Iran represents the most significant geopolitical shift in the Middle East today. He noted that the regime’s failure to suppress the growing protests and its resort to mass executions illustrate its desperation. He also condemned the regime’s hostage diplomacy and reiterated the necessity for accountability and the terrorist designation of the IRGC.

Lord Clarke, former leader of the Labour Party, highlighted his decades-long support for the Iranian resistance and emphasized the UK’s responsibility to support the Iranian people’s democratic aspirations. He expressed admiration for Maryam Rajavi’s leadership and the resilience of the Iranian Resistance, including the residents of Ashraf 3.

Conservative MP Bob Blackman outlined a six-point plan for the UK’s policy towards Iran, which includes recognizing the NCRI as a legitimate opposition, backing Maryam Rajavi’s democratic platform, and reimposing UN sanctions against the regime’s nuclear program. He described the regime’s attempts to demonize the Iranian Resistance as evidence of its fear of the opposition’s growth.

 

Sir Desmond Swayne, Conservative MP and member of the Joint Human Rights Committee, addressed the gathering by highlighting his committee’s investigation into what he described as “transnational repression” by the Iranian regime. He explained that evidence had been gathered showing how the regime continues to harass, threaten, and even murder dissidents and former citizens who have fled Iran. Sir Swayne expressed hope that the day of reckoning for such crimes would eventually come, emphasizing his belief that the next Nowruz could be celebrated in a free Iran.

Lord Dholakia, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, condemned the regime’s escalating human rights abuses, noting that executions in 2024 had surged by 42% compared to the previous year. He urged the UK to recognize the NCRI and list the IRGC as a terrorist organization, warning that those responsible for the brutality would eventually face justice.

Sir Roger Gale, a Conservative MP and former Deputy Speaker, stressed that while British politicians can only imagine the suffering endured by the Iranian people, they remain committed to standing alongside them. He praised Maryam Rajavi’s leadership and reaffirmed the UK’s support for the NCRI’s struggle for democracy and justice.

Toby Perkins, Labour MP and former Shadow Defence Minister, emphasized that the cross-party support demonstrated during the gathering reflects a widespread recognition across the UK Parliament of the necessity for democratic change in Iran. He expressed hope that the following Nowruz could be celebrated in a free and democratic Iran.

Lord Singh condemned the regime’s brutality and emphasized that its escalating crackdown on political dissidents and minorities illustrates its desperation. He urged the international community to recognize the NCRI as the legitimate opposition to the

regime.

Rachel Maskell, Labour MP and former Shadow Defense Minister, praised the dedication of Iranian Resistance supporters in the UK and emphasized that their advocacy plays a critical role in informing British lawmakers about the ongoing human rights abuses in Iran. She reiterated her support for Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan and called for a stronger international stance against the regime’s oppression.

 

Baroness Altmann reaffirmed her longstanding support for the Iranian people’s struggle and criticized the UK government’s failure to blacklist the IRGC as a terrorist organization. She praised Maryam Rajavi’s leadership and reiterated the urgent need for action against the regime’s crimes.

Valerie Corbett, widow of Lord Corbett of Castle Vale, echoed the late Lord’s commitment to the cause of Iranian freedom. Quoting Dostoevsky, she described the regime’s brutality as a measure of its backwardness. She also mentioned Ashraf 3, noting that her late husband often remarked that “Ashraf will survive,” which has proven true.

Margaret Owen, an international women’s rights advocate, praised the courage of Iranian women resisting the regime despite brutal repression, including public executions. She underscored the necessity of overthrowing the regime and embracing Maryam Rajavi’s democratic platform.

Professor Sara Chandler emphasized the absence of rule of law and justice in Iran and expressed hope that the ongoing resistance would ultimately prevail.

Hossein Abedini, a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) Foreign Affairs Committee and deputy director of the NCRI UK office in London, emphasized that despite widespread poverty, systematic discrimination, and brutal crackdowns by the regime, the Iranian people remain committed to their struggle for freedom. He underscored the importance of international recognition of the NCRI and urged the UK government to formally list the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Abedini also praised Maryam Rajavi’s leadership, describing her Ten-Point Plan as the most viable roadmap for a democratic Iran.

Neda Zabeti, a member of the Iranian community in the UK, spoke passionately about the symbolism of Nowruz as a time of renewal and resistance. She noted how the Iranian people, despite enduring repression, celebrate Nowruz as a declaration of their unwavering commitment to freedom. Zabeti emphasized that the Iranian Resistance, under the leadership of Maryam Rajavi, represents the hope of a free and democratic Iran.

Iranian human rights advocates, including Azadeh Zabati, reiterated their commitment to fighting for a free Iran and praised Maryam Rajavi’s leadership as a symbol of hope and resilience. Zabati specifically acknowledged Maryam Rajavi’s leadership as a guiding force in the NCRI’s efforts to dismantle the clerical dictatorship and establish a free, secular Iran.