Iranian Protests in Paris and Stockholm Condemn Executions, Highlight Growing Unity

Staff Writer1 hour ago
Iranian Protests in Paris and Stockholm Condemn Executions, Highlight Growing Unity
Thousands of Iranians and supporters of the opposition gathered

Supporters of the NCRI as well as other political and ethnic groups rallied in Paris on April 11, 2026
Written by
Shamsi Saadati

Thousands of Iranians and supporters of the opposition gathered in Paris and Stockholm on April 11, 2026, staging coordinated demonstrations against a recent wave of executions in Iran and calling for urgent international intervention.

In Paris, the largest of the two gatherings took place at Place du Trocadéro, where participants rallied under the banner of a “Free Iran.” Demonstrators condemned the execution of political prisoners, including members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran and young protesters detained during recent uprisings. Many held photographs of those executed, while others waved Iranian and Kurdistan flags alongside banners representing a wide spectrum of political tendencies and ethnic communities.

Organizers and participants emphasized that the presence of diverse groups—each with its own symbols, slogans, and identity—reflected what they described as a “rainbow of democratic diversity.” Kurdish, Baluchi, Arab, Turkmen and other Iranian communities stood alongside supporters of various political currents, signaling a shared opposition to executions and authoritarian rule.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi: “A Flame of the Iranian People’s Resistance”
In a video message to the Paris demonstration, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, framed the gathering as part of a broader movement inside Iran.

“Your gathering today is a flame of the Iranian people’s Resistance and uprising; people who are counting the days to achieve freedom and popular sovereignty, and who have raised the banner of peace and freedom,” she said.

Mrs. Rajavi linked the recent executions to what she described as efforts by Iranian authorities to contain dissent following the January uprising. “The ruling clerics have seized upon war as an opportunity to tighten the noose and block the path of a new generation of resistance and uprising,” she stated, adding that executions are being used “to confront the rising tide of uprisings.”

Referring to the execution of 13 individuals, including PMOI members and young protesters, she said their deaths carried “a powerful message” that “a resolute generation, forged in determination, has stepped onto the battlefield… determined to replace this reactionary system with a democratic republic, freedom, and the sovereignty of the people.”

Stockholm Rally Echoes Calls for Democratic Change
A parallel demonstration was held in Stockholm, where Iranians and NCRI supporters gathered in front of the Swedish Parliament. Protesters there similarly condemned executions and voiced support for a democratic republic in Iran.

As in Paris, participants represented a broad cross-section of Iranian society, with different political affiliations and ethnic backgrounds visibly present through their flags and banners. Demonstrators reiterated slogans rejecting all forms of dictatorship and emphasized unity across ideological lines.

Organizers described the Stockholm rally as part of a sustained international campaign to draw attention to human rights conditions in Iran and to support what they called an “organized resistance” seeking political change.

A Growing Transnational Movement
The demonstrations in Paris and Stockholm form part of a broader pattern of diaspora mobilization that has intensified in recent months. Participants and organizers argue that such gatherings are not isolated protests but components of an expanding transnational movement aligned with developments inside Iran.

The visible diversity of the crowds—spanning political orientations and ethnic identities—was repeatedly highlighted as a defining feature of the protests. Observers noted that this convergence underscores a common objectives: opposition to executions, rejection of dictatorship in all its forms— whether theocratic or monarchial— and demands for fundamental political change.

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