Berlin — February 7, 2026
Thousands of Iranians and supporters of the Iranian Resistance gathered in Berlin on Saturday in a large rally organized to express solidarity with ongoing protests inside Iran and to call for greater international attention to human rights and political developments in the country. The event, held in the German capital, brought together members of Iranian communities from across Europe and coincided with the anniversary of the 1979 anti-monarchical revolution, framing the gathering around opposition to dictatorship and calls for a democratic future determined by the Iranian people.
Participants filled central areas of the city carrying banners and placards calling for freedom, justice for victims of repression, and accountability for officials accused of human rights abuses. The rally was part of broader diaspora mobilization aimed at amplifying voices from inside Iran, where protests in recent years have increasingly included calls for systemic political change rather than limited reforms.
Free Iran Rally- In Support of the Iranian People’s Uprising for a Democratic Republic https://t.co/a97PdP8azJ #BerlinFreeIranDemo #IranProtests #IranRevolution #FreeIran2026 #No2ShahNo2Mullahs
— Iran Focus (@Iran_Focus) February 6, 2026
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), said in her address that the gathering reflected the continuation of what she described as a nationwide uprising, portraying recent protests as a turning point that had resonated beyond Iran’s borders. She described the uprising as an event that “shook Iran and the world,” honoring those killed during demonstrations and emphasizing the sacrifices made by protesters.
Throughout her remarks, Mrs. Rajavi framed the current political moment as part of a longer historical trajectory. She referred repeatedly to decades of opposition to the ruling system, calling for recognition of what she described as a 44-year resistance movement aimed at overthrowing the clerical establishment. In this context, she praised families of those killed in past and recent confrontations, highlighting stories of bereaved parents who, she said, transformed loss into continued political resolve.
The speech also invoked figures associated with the Iranian opposition, including Ashraf Rajavi and Moussa Khiabani, whose words were cited as expressions of endurance and hope during periods of repression. These references placed the present developments within a narrative of continuity, linking current protests to earlier phases of political struggle.
Mrs. Rajavi described the January uprising as having “three sides”: protesters seeking freedom, the ruling authorities who responded with force, and what she characterized as monarchist elements attempting to appropriate the movement’s outcome. She criticized slogans supportive of the former monarchy, arguing that such divisions weakened the unity of protests and benefited the ruling establishment. Her remarks echoed a recurring theme of rejecting both the monarchy and the current clerical system, summarized in the slogan “No to the Shah, no to the mullahs.”
Looking beyond immediate political tensions, Mrs. Rajavi outlined elements of a future political framework she said could follow a change of power. She described a vision of a democratic republic characterized by separation of religion and state, equal rights for women, and recognition of the rights of Iran’s diverse ethnic communities, including Kurds, Baluchi, Turkmens, and Arabs. She also referred to a transition process involving the drafting of a new constitution by a constituent assembly elected within six months after the fall of the current system.
In addition to addressing the Iranian diaspora, Mrs. Rajavi directed part of her speech toward international policymakers. She called on governments to take concrete steps aligned with the demands raised by protesters, including measures to halt executions of detainees connected to protests, support for unrestricted internet access, and legal accountability for Iranian officials accused of crimes against humanity. She also urged the closure of Iranian embassies and the expulsion of individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and intelligence services, as well as broader economic and political pressure on the ruling establishment.
The Berlin rally unfolded against a backdrop of continued political debate among Iranian communities abroad over the direction of opposition movements and the nature of potential alternatives to the current system. The gathering’s emphasis on organized resistance, unity among opposition forces, and international engagement reflected ongoing efforts by diaspora groups to influence global perceptions of events inside Iran.
As speeches concluded and participants dispersed, the rally left behind a visible demonstration of diaspora activism centered on Iran’s political future. While differing perspectives remain among Iranian opposition currents, the Berlin event illustrated the continued mobilization of communities outside Iran seeking to shape international discourse around the country’s internal developments.
