On September 24, 2024, supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) rallied in New York City to protest Iranian regime President Masoud Pezeshkian’s attendance at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The protestors, mostly from the Iranian diaspora, strongly condemned the Iranian regime for its human rights abuses, especially its increasing number of executions, and its support for terrorism.
Chanting slogans like “No to the regime of massacres, no to war and terrorism,” protestors expressed their opposition not only to Pezeshkian’s presence at the UN but also to the overall policies of the Iranian government. They accused Pezeshkian of being involved in crimes, including the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran. The demonstrators claimed that under his administration since August 2024, around 180 people had been executed, while the regime continued to support terrorist proxies abroad.
The Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC), which organized the protests, said the event was part of a larger movement to highlight ongoing human rights violations in Iran. “Pezeshkian, hear us. Your regime’s time is ending. Khamenei, the leader in Tehran, will soon be overthrown by the Iranian people,” OIAC declared.
Calls for International Support
The protesters urged the international community, especially Western countries, to stop appeasing the Iranian regime and to support the Iranian people’s right to overthrow the despotic regime. “End appeasement. Recognize the Iranian people’s right to overthrow the criminal regime of Khamenei and his puppets like Pezeshkian,” they chanted.
Several notable figures voiced their support for the protests. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz sent a message of solidarity, stating, “The time is long passed for the Iranian regime to end up discarded into the ash heap of history.” He criticized the regime for its consistent opposition to freedom and democracy, pointing out its use of terrorism, hostage-taking, and sham trials to maintain power. Cruz also condemned the fact that despite its poor human rights record, Iran’s leadership was still welcomed on the international stage, specifically at the United Nations.
Sam Brownback, the former Governor of Kansas and U.S. Ambassador for Religious Freedom, also voiced his support. He praised the resilience of the protesters and stressed the need for maximum economic pressure on the Iranian regime. Brownback argued that the regime used its financial resources to fund terrorism, and called for international support of the Iranian resistance. He echoed the protesters’ call for regime change, stating, “If we want peace in the Middle East, this regime must be removed.”
International Reactions and Continued Criticism
Ambassador Mark Ginsberg was another notable speaker at the event. He condemned the Iranian regime, calling it an “unreformable” and “unsalvageable.” Ginsberg argued that the Iranian people had not chosen their leaders and called for international recognition of their demand for the prosecution of Iran’s rulers. He highlighted the regime’s widespread terrorist activities across the region and claimed that its fall would be a victory for not just Iran, but the broader Middle East.
Professor Alan Dershowitz also voiced strong criticism of the Iranian regime, calling it “the most dangerous regime in the world since the Nazis assumed power in the 1930s in Germany.” He supported the ten-point plan of Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi, which calls for a free and democratic Iran. Dershowitz insisted that the people of Iran want a life free of repression and the right to determine their future. He also argued that the fight against the Iranian regime was a global issue, urging the United Nations to stop giving a platform to leaders who do not represent their people.
The Ongoing Fight for Freedom
The protests in New York represent a broader, ongoing movement among the Iranian diaspora and supporters of freedom around the world. The demonstrators are calling for an end to the Iranian regime’s brutal dictatorship and advocating for the establishment of a free, democratic, and non-nuclear Iran.
As the New York protests show, the fight for a free Iran continues. With growing international attention, the movement’s supporters believe that the Iranian regime’s time is running out.
