Rochdale MP, Tony Lloyd, has signed a statement in support of the Iranian people’s nationwide protests calling for a free, stable, inclusive and democratic country.

Protests erupted in Iran following the tragic murder of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini by the regime’s morality police. Since then, demonstrations have spread across the country, with people calling for regime change.

Tony said, “The disproportionate use of force by Iranian security forces against peaceful protestors should shock us all. More than 400 people have been killed and 20,000 have been arrested.

“Authorities have restricted and disrupted the use of the Internet, stopping news spreading of the atrocities carried out by the regime and preventing images of protests being carried out.

“The regime’s officials are responsible for these atrocities. They must be sanctioned and face justice.”

The statement strongly condemns the ‘killing and arrests of the protesters’, adding that ‘the regime’s officials are responsible and must be sanctioned and face justice.’ It also recognises the ‘the right of the Iranian people to resist repression and to defend themselves by all the necessary means,’ and to restore ‘free access to Internet for the Iranian people.’

Amnesty International has repeatedly called for the prosecution of Ebrahim Raisi, President of Iran for his role in the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in 1988, 90% of whom supported the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran. In November 2019 uprisings, 1,500 protesters were killed by the regime’s repressive forces.

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Notes for editors:-

A copy of the statement can be found below:

Support Iranian people’s protests

Since mid-September, the new wave of uprisings was sparked when Mahsa Amini, 22-year-old woman, was arrested in Tehran under the pretext of mal-veiling and brutally murdered by the repressive police. Protests and uprisings have spread all over Iran to more than 170 major cities in all 31 provinces and dozens of universities. Repressive forces (IRGC) fire live ammunition at protesters. It is reported over 400 protestors have been killed and 20000 arrested. They have been chanting “Down with Khamenei,” “Down with dictator,” seeking the overthrow of the regime.
By disrupting the Internet, the regime is preventing dissemination of their atrocities, news, and images of protests.
Resistance Units and network of PMOI/MEK play a vital role in organizing, spreading, and continuing the protests across Iran. against repression.
Over the last 43 years, 120,000 political activists have been executed. Amnesty International has repeatedly called for the prosecution of Raisi for his role in the massacre of 30000 political prisoners in 1988, 90% of whom were Mujahedin (PMOI/MEK) supporters. In November 2019 uprisings, 1500 protesters were killed by the regime’s repressive forces (IRGC)
we call on Europe member states and the international community:
· To Strongly condemn killing and arrests of the protesters. The regime’s officials are responsible, they must be sanctioned and face justice.
· To recognize the right of the Iranian people to resist repression and to defend themselves by all the necessary means.
· To provide free access to Internet for the Iranian people