Global Leaders Unite in Support of the Paris Free Iran Rally
A coalition of former world leaders and senior politicians has declared solidarity with thousands of Iranians set to Free Iran Rally on February 8, 2025, advocating for a democratic and secular republic in Iran. The Free Iran March aims to reject both the ruling religious dictatorship and the former monarchy, calling for a government based on democracy and human rights.
Coinciding with the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 revolution, the statement reaffirms unwavering support for the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom. It strongly condemns the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses while rejecting authoritarian rule in all its forms.
Backing a Democratic Vision for Iran
The coalition endorses the Ten-Point Plan of Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) — a roadmap for a secular, democratic Iran that gained the backing of over 4,000 MPs and 137 former world leaders in 2024. The statement calls on governments worldwide to recognize the Iranian people’s right to self-determination and to stand with their movement for democracy and justice.
A Distinguished Coalition of Global Leaders
The Free Iran March has received endorsements from a distinguished group of former prime ministers, foreign ministers, parliamentarians, and diplomatic leaders, including:
Former Heads of Government
- Guy Verhofstadt — Former Prime Minister, Belgium
- Anneli Jäätteenmäki — Former Prime Minister, Finland
- Geir H. Haarde — Former Prime Minister, Iceland
- Petre Roman — Former Prime Minister, Romania
- Jaume Bartumeu-Cassany — Former Prime Minister, Andorra
- Yulia Tymoshenko — Former Prime Minister, Ukraine
- Janez Janša — Former Prime Minister, Slovenia
- Carlo Cottarelli — Former Prime Minister-Designate, Italy
- Giuseppe Maria Morganti — Former Captain Regent, San Marino
- Joseph Muscat — Former Prime Minister, Malta
- Avdullah Hoti — Former Prime Minister, Kosovo
Senior Ministers and Diplomats
- John Baird — Former Foreign Minister, Canada
- Dick Spring — Former Foreign Minister, Ireland
- Anatol Șalaru — Former Defence Minister, Moldova
- Ignazio Marino — Former Mayor of Rome, Italy
- Nicola Renzi — Former Foreign Minister, San Marino
- Tonio Borg — Former Foreign Minister, Malta
- Jan-Erik Enestam — Former Secretary-General of the Nordic Council; Former Defence Minister, Finland
- Thomas E. Garrett — Former Secretary General, Community of Democracies (CoD), U.S.
- Audronius Ažubalis — Former Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE; Former Foreign Minister, Lithuania
- Maria Celeste Cardona — Former Justice Minister, Portugal
Parliamentarians and Influential Figures
- Rowan Williams — Former Archbishop of Canterbury, U.K.
- Nicolas Walder — Member of Parliament, Switzerland
- Ellen Samyn — Member of Parliament, Belgium
- Milan Zver — Member of the European Parliament, Slovenia
- Amb. Ken Blackwell — Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Commission on Human Rights
- Tony Clement PC — Former Minister of Industry, Canada
- Amb. Mitchell Reiss — Former Director of Policy Planning, U.S. State Department
- Robert Torricelli — Former U.S. Senator
- Louis J. Freeh — Former Director of the FBI, U.S.
- Bob Blackman — Member of Parliament, U.K.
- Gerard Craughwell — Member of the Senate, Ireland
- Amb. Lincoln P. Bloomfield Jr. — Former Assistant Secretary of State, U.S.
- Matej Tonin — Former Deputy Prime Minister, Slovenia
A Call for Global Action
With international backing growing, the Free Iran Rally is set to amplify demands for democratic change in Iran. The coalition urges world leaders to support the Iranian people’s right to freedom and self-governance, reinforcing the call for an end to oppression and the establishment of a just, democratic Iran.
