Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams Meets Maryam Rajavi

On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, Dr. Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, met and held talks with Maryam Rajavi. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the highest-ranking clerical authority in the Church of England and has a wide following in many countries.
During the meeting, Maryam Rajavi expressed her appreciation for Dr. Williams’ efforts in promoting peace, democracy, and interfaith dialogue. She stated that the Iranian Resistance will never forget his positions condemning human rights violations in Iran, as well as his consistent support for the PMOI/MEK over the past two decades, particularly at times when they were under the most intense attacks at Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty.
Referring to the growing wave of executions and repression aimed at preventing an uprising, Maryam Rajavi stated that what the clerical regime carries out in the name of God and Islam has nothing to do with Islam. Islam, like Christianity, is a religion of peace, tolerance, and humanity. Using Islam as a tool for repression and violence is a betrayal of its true essence. Fundamentalism not only fails to defend Islam but is, in fact, one of its greatest enemies.
Emphasizing the bond of brotherhood among the Abrahamic religions, Maryam Rajavi added that Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary hold a special place in the Quran as well as among the people of Iran. She further noted that, through their successive uprisings, the Iranian people have rejected both the religious dictatorship and the Shah’s dictatorship. They are fighting for a democratic republic based on the people’s vote, the separation of religion and state, and respect for individual and social freedoms.
Dr. Williams, reaffirming his support for the Iranian Resistance, said that their long-standing struggle against religious dictatorship, along with the Ten-Point Plan for Iran’s future, leaves no doubt about the democratic nature of their movement. He added that genuine religion cannot be imposed by the state and must be grounded in freedom of conscience. Religious freedom, he emphasized, is not merely one of the people’s rights but a foundation for other political freedoms.
He also expressed concern over reports of executions and the repression of opponents in Iran, stressing that the international community must not remain silent in the face of such crimes and must respond.
Emphasizing that the Shah’s regime belongs to the past, he added that the Shah’s son has not only failed to reject his father’s rule but is seeking to restore that same system.