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Along Associazione Meridiana, supporters of the Iranian Resistance held a human rights conference in Rivoli, Italy – March 2025
A human rights conference held in Rivoli, Italy, brought renewed attention to the escalating wave of executions and severe human rights abuses in Iran under the clerical dictatorship. Organized by the Meridiana Human Rights Association in cooperation with the Free and Democratic Iran Association, the event united scholars, activists, and members of the Iranian diaspora in a joint call for a decisive international response and support for Iran’s organized resistance movement.
Bruno Merlin, president of the Meridiana Association, opened the conference by emphasizing Iran’s deep cultural heritage and the contrast between the country’s people and the ruling regime. He characterized the regime as a fundamentalist religious dictatorship that has systematically blocked progress, freedom, and democracy. Merlin underscored the importance of acknowledging the Iranian people’s aspirations for change, which he said are embodied in the country’s organized resistance movement.
Valter Coralluzzo, professor of international relations at the University of Turin, focused on the ideological nature of the regime, which he described as fundamentally incompatible with peaceful coexistence. He highlighted that following its setbacks across the Middle East and growing international isolation, the regime has resorted to widespread executions—including of political prisoners—to instill fear and suppress unrest. Coralluzzo stressed that these executions have escalated dramatically, yet are often met with international silence. He pointed to the Iranian people’s rejection of both theocratic and monarchical rule during recent uprisings, asserting that this reflects a clear demand for a secular, democratic alternative. He described the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), led by Maryam Rajavi, as that alternative, with her Ten-Point Plan outlining a democratic roadmap based on separation of religion and state, gender equality, and civil freedoms.
Yalda Jahandarpour, a representative of the Iranian Youth Association in Italy, spoke about the historical roots of the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom, particularly among women. She emphasized the active role of youth and women in recent uprisings, supported by resistance units inside the country, calling for the overthrow of the clerical regime and the establishment of a democratic republic. Jahandarpour stressed that the regime is using executions as a primary tool of repression, targeting political dissent and attempting to prevent future protests. She urged the international community to act decisively, stating that only by supporting the Iranian people and the NCRI can democracy and human rights be achieved in Iran.
Vi segnalo:
IRAN: UNO STATO TEOCRATICO
Giovedì 13 marzo 2025, ore 21:00
La Meridiana di Rivoli, Piazza S. Rocco 6 #Rivoli
Interverrò per @amnesty su "La violazione dei diritti di informazione ed espressione. Le azioni possibili"@amnestyitalia @AmnestyPiemonte @amnestytorino pic.twitter.com/0uc7M3FEMP
— Luca Andreani (@RCAmnestyPieVdA) March 12, 2025
Dr. Yousef Lesani warned that the regime, reeling from strategic failures and fearing domestic revolt, has responded with intensified repression, mass poverty, and expanded executions. He described the looting of national resources and the regime’s sponsorship of regional terrorism as interconnected strategies aimed at preserving power. Dr. Lesani reaffirmed the NCRI’s role as a viable democratic alternative, crediting the MEK as its driving force and Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as a credible foundation for Iran’s transition to democracy. He called on Western governments to abandon appeasement, recognize the legitimacy of the Iranian people’s resistance, and formally designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity.
Luca Andreani, head of Amnesty International in Italy’s Piedmont region, concluded the conference by addressing the alarming rise in executions across Iran, especially of ethnic and religious minorities. He pointed to the regime’s disregard for international legal standards, its use of hostage diplomacy, and the systemic use of the death penalty as a tool of oppression. Andreani also emphasized the particularly dire situation for Iranian women, citing deep-rooted discrimination and abuse. Despite the regime’s brutality, he expressed hope for a better future and stressed the importance of continued international attention and action.
The conference ended with a strong call for the international community to abandon failed policies of appeasement and stand firmly with the Iranian people’s demand for change. Participants advocated for international recognition of the NCRI as a credible and democratic alternative to the clerical dictatorship and urged democratic governments to take concrete measures to halt executions and hold the regime accountable for its ongoing human rights violations.