Silence on Iran’s Human Rights Violations

Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), stands as a leading voice in the opposition against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s regime. She frames the struggle for Iran’s future as one that cannot tolerate silence on persistent human rights violations. “Remaining silent about the violations of human rights in Iran, emboldens Khamenei to continue his warmongering and bomb-making project,” Rajavi asserts, directly tying the international community’s inaction to the Iranian dictatorship’s continued abuses and nuclear pursuits.
Her statements highlight not only the internal repression but also the regime’s geopolitical agenda that has cost Iranian society dearly, amid a call for decisive global action. This analysis explores Rajavi’s detailed vision, international responses, and the broader implications of her call for regime change.

The Unyielding Regime and the Human Rights Crisis

The Iranian regime under Khamenei has been responsible for widespread repression, including extrajudicial killings, mass imprisonments, and political executions. According to Rajavi and the NCRI, in recent years alone, the regime has executed approximately 750 protesters and imprisoned 30,000 individuals for opposing the dictatorship, signaling the regime’s brutal approach to dissent. The regime’s willingness to crush internal opposition reflects its fragility and desperation, especially as mass uprisings have swept Iran multiple times from 2009 through 2022.
Rajavi emphasizes the regime’s historical abuse of power:
rather than addressing the dire socio-economic needs of ordinary Iranians. The profound social and economic costs have translated into severe hardship, with unpaid wages of workers, teachers, and nurses alongside shortages of food and medicine.
The regime’s disregard for humanitarian needs is part of a broader strategy Rajavi highlights, aimed at preserving Khamenei’s grip on power through terror and violence. International indifference, she warns, only strengthens this brutal status quo.

The Nuclear Threat and International Responsibilities

Central to Rajavi’s critique is the nuclear ambitions of the Tehran regime. The United Nations Security Council’s six resolutions on Iran’s nuclear program are, in her view, “essential to prevent the religious dictatorship from acquiring a nuclear bomb” and must be enforced without leniency. The reimplementation of these sanctions beginning September 28, 2025, marks a critical juncture after a 10-year suspension, signaling renewed international resolve to counter Iran’s nuclear threats.
Rajavi underscores the necessity of blocking any regime attempts to circumvent these resolutions, especially regarding weapons and missile technologies and banking sanctions.
she declared, advocating for the international community to adopt a firm stance that accompanies these sanctions with a recognition of the Iranian people’s right to resist dictatorship.
This stance aligns with a vision where containment is not enough; regime change by the Iranian people is the ultimate goal.

The Third Option: No War, No Appeasement, Only Regime Change

In the wake of ceasefires following the Iran-Israel air conflict of June 2025, Rajavi proposed what she calls the “third option”: neither war nor appeasement, but “regime change by the Iranian people”. She condemns foreign military interventions and diplomatic concessions that fail to hold the regime accountable. This “third option” represents a democratic alternative to the current dictatorship that has led Iran into decades of internal repression, regional warmongering, and economic ruin.
At a UK Parliament conference, Rajavi explained this alternative further by emphasizing that the Iranian people themselves must determine their future by overthrowing the regime, thereby ending the cycle of violence and repression imposed by Khamenei’s religious fascism.
Her ten-point plan for Iran offers a roadmap for transformation based on universal human rights principles, including gender equality, separation of religion and state, and respect for ethnic minorities. This plan, endorsed by thousands of lawmakers worldwide, provides a comprehensive political and social framework for Iran’s democratic future.

Global Support and Statements from International Lawmakers

Rajavi’s ideas are not isolated; they resonate with thousands of lawmakers internationally. Over 3,600 lawmakers from 61 legislative bodies across 40 countries have formally supported her ten-point plan for a democratic Iran, calling for the designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. This widespread political backing reflects growing frustration with the regime’s behavior and a recognition of the necessity for systemic change.
Global parliamentary committees have also backed clearer actions against Iran’s terrorism and human rights abuses. For instance, the UK Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security has exposed Tehran’s operatives abroad, leading Rajavi to urge stronger international measures and parliamentary resolutions backing the resistance inside Iran.

Costs of Khamenei’s Warmongering to Iranian People

Rajavi publicly outlined the staggering material and human toll of Khamenei’s agenda, noting the “cost of his warmongering to the Iranian people exceeds two trillion dollars” alongside innumerable deaths. This highlights how the regime prioritizes militarization and regional ambitions over the welfare of its population.
She condemns Khamenei’s aggression as unpatriotic and destructive:
This encapsulates the political and moral foundation of her leadership of the NCRI and her call to both the Iranian population and the international community.

The Historic and Cultural Alternative Offered by Rajavi

Beyond protests and resolutions, Rajavi and the NCRI articulate a cultural and ideological alternative to Iran’s theocratic regime deeply rooted in democratic principles and tolerance. Originating from the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), with a 60-year history of confronting two dictatorships, the organization promotes “a tolerant and democratic Islam that embraces coexistence among followers of different religions” as an antithesis to clerical authoritarianism.
Her leadership confidently proclaims:
signaling a break from the regime’s enforced religious policies and a vision for a pluralistic, secular, and free Iran.

Recent Developments: The 1988 Massacre and Continuing State Crimes

Rajavi has also condemned the regime’s ongoing state-controlled propaganda and calls for repeating atrocities such as the 1988 massacre of political prisoners. This stark reminder of the regime’s enduring capacity for mass violence underscores the urgent need to expose and prosecute its historic and current crimes against humanity.
This ongoing pattern of repression highlights the regime’s desperation to maintain control and silence dissent despite widespread national and international condemnation.
An Urgent Call for Global Action and Iranian Resistance
Maryam Rajavi’s persistent message is that the only viable path forward for Iran lies in bold, decisive regime change initiated and led by the Iranian people. She warns against the dangers of silence, appeasement, or military conflict driven by external actors, and insists on enforcing international resolutions to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions as part of a broader strategy to end tyranny.
Her vision, backed by a growing coalition of international lawmakers, activists, and Iranians inside and outside the country, represents a comprehensive alternative centered on democracy, human rights, and peace. This strategic positioning offers hope for an Iran free from dictatorship, nuclear threats, and oppression, emphasizing the power of the people to reshape their destiny.