Former German Justice Minister Urges European Action and Support for a Democratic Iran

Staff Writer2 hours ago
Former German Justice Minister Urges European Action and Support for a Democratic Iran
On an April 22, 2026, conference, former German Minister of Justice

Former German Minister of Justice Herta Däubler-Gmelin addresses a meeting at the EU Parliament in Brussels on April 22, 2026
Written by
Dr. Masumeh Bolurchi

On an April 22, 2026, conference, former German Minister of Justice Prof. Dr. Herta Däubler-Gmelin addressed the European Parliament, urging European leaders to take decisive action in support of the Iranian people’s quest for freedom. She emphasized five critical points to guide international policy: immediate cessation of executions, ending regional conflicts, and supporting the unification of the Iranian resistance.

Dr. Däubler-Gmelin specifically endorsed Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as a viable blueprint for a democratic, rule-of-law-abiding society. She issued a stern warning against attempts to restore the Pahlavi monarchy, recalling the oppressive legacy of the SAVAK security police and criticizing recent discriminatory rhetoric from the former Shah’s son regarding minorities like the Kurds.

Advocating for a new society based on European values and participation, she called for an end to the fragile truce in favor of real stability. Her speech highlighted the importance of international solidarity in dismantling the killing machine and replacing murderous oppression with a just, democratic framework. Her call to action underscores the urgency for governments to move toward resolute support for freedom in the Middle East.

The full text of Dr. Herta Däubler-Gmelin’s speech follows:

Herta Däubler-Gmelin, ehemalige Bundesministerin der Justiz
Dear President Rajavi, honorable colleagues from the European

Parliament, it’s good to be here. It’s not my first time because as a German Minister of Justice and German parliamentarian I have been here quite a lot of times. But always coming here anew, this is a good place, a good place to improve, to uphold and to defend European standards, European values, freedom meaning of course rule of law situations and of course the situation of peace, so no war.

So, I thank you very much for your engagement here in the European Parliament to help the Iran people to get finally to come to a society which gives them more freedom, participation, rule of law and of course end the murderous oppression which they are suffering from. Thank you so much.

And I think, dear friends, ladies and gentlemen, it’s a very good place to support the demands of President Rajavi and her friends. I just had the, because I was late, I only could read your wonderful speech. I think all that what has to be done is included here. What do we have to ask our friends and colleagues of the European Parliament? That’s what you said sir, well to always appeal to the European and to the national governments leader to make resolute and of course more effective steps to support the freedom and let’s say a new society in Iran.

And quite a lot of things have been said so let me only point out the five points I find the most important. The most important thing is this murderous killing machine to be stopped. So, this has to be let’s say a task of the European leaders from EU or from our governments that they have to ask not only the ambassadors but to all those people who are negotiating somewhere to stop the executions now, immediately. I think this is our first point we have to say and thank you so much dear colleagues from the European Parliament for engaging in this situation.

The second thing I wanted to say is of course Europe has to move more effectively not to continue this fragile truce but to stop the war. You see this war affects us all of course, but this is not the reason why we should do that. It’s because the people in Iran, the people in Lebanon, the kids, the schools and other people, even our friends in Israel, they are suffering from this war, and this has to be ended and it has to be ended soon.

And the third point I think we have to ask our government is to help the resistance movement to unite a bit more. I know that you are trying what you can do but this is one where need is helped in all our countries. And the fourth point I wanted to mention is, I think there is a good blueprint how a new democratic rule of law-abiding Iran could let’s say look like. It’s your Ten-Point Plan. And I think you should accept this. Perhaps this might be a tool that could improve and let’s say support the demands for more effective steps of our governments and from the European leaders.

You see the interesting thing is for me that we can see now that there are people or political powers that want to go back to former times and reinstitute the son of the Shah, of the former Shah. And for me it was a disaster as it was for you to read what his press statements in the last days. Press statements that he said, oh what my father did was a very good thing. You see as a student in Berlin at the Shah time I remember quite well the SAVAK security police and their oppressive let’s say situations and tools not only in Iran but towards people, young people who were demonstrating in Berlin against the Shah and his policy.

And of course, what I found disgusting was we all know how problematic it will be to let’s say create a new democratic and united Iran. This will be a great work to do that in a just way. We can see what happens in in Syria now. And so we know what will await you if there will be a possibility let’s say to realize the ten point plan. But then to say that minorities should be some sort of discriminated as in the press statements of the son was said against the Kurds. This is not a not only a disaster but that’s a crime. So, I think it’s good that we are here and that we are uniting and supporting what we want. Again, thanks to our colleagues of the European Parliament for your engagement.

Thank you.

Staff Writer2 hours ago
Arab-Islamic Committee in Defence of Ashraf
Back to top button