As the Iranian people face a massacre that is now being documented, Europe must no longer remain a bystander. At a time when strategies of chaos threaten global stability, a collective European stance – clear and resolute – is essential. Defending Iranians today is to defend our own democratic values, human dignity and the universality of fundamental rights.
In the face of escalating violence, a mobilization of democratic consciences – both citizens and organizations – is urgently needed to defend the right of Iranians to live freely in a democratic state.
For several weeks, Iranians have faced state violence on an undeniable scale. The information received, corroborated by numerous sources, has confirmed the systematic use of firearms against civilians, unarmed crowds, students, women and teenagers. Shootings are no longer just a threat – they are a reality. The death toll is in the thousands. What is happening in Iran today is no longer a sporadic crackdown, but a massacre.
Remarkable dignity and courage
Given this situation, symbolic condemnations or statements of principle are no longer sufficient. For years, the Iranian people have shown remarkable dignity and courage. They have continued to resist, at the cost of their lives, an Islamist regime that rules through terror while trying to cloak itself in the trappings of international respectability. This struggle is universal. It is about the future of public freedoms, the very idea of emancipation and the ability of democracies to defend themselves when put to the test.
Iran occupies a decisive place within the global equilibrium. A historic crossroads between East and West, a space for the circulation of knowledge, arts and ideas, it is now at a tipping point. By allowing this bloodshed to continue, the international community is sending a dangerous signal of tacit tolerance for a people being crushed by its own government. The Iranian regime uses cultural, academic and diplomatic soft power to mask the extreme violence it perpetrates. This strategy can no longer be accepted.
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