Brussels Protest Urges EU to Back Iranian People, Reject Appeasement and War

As European Union leaders gathered for a summit in Brussels, hundreds of demonstrators rallied outside EU institutions, calling for a shift in policy toward Iran. The protest, organized by “Free Iranians,” delivered a unified message: “No appeasement, no foreign war—only the Iranian people and their organized Resistance can bring lasting change.”

According to coverage of the event, participants demanded the overthrow of Iran’s ruling establishment, arguing that decades of diplomatic engagement have failed to curb repression domestically or alter regional policies. At the same time, protesters rejected the idea that foreign military intervention could offer a sustainable solution, warning that such an approach would lead to further instability and human suffering.

Throughout the demonstration, participants waved flags and held banners bearing the slogan “No Shah, No Mullah,” signaling their rejection of all forms of authoritarian rule. The message reflected a broader call for a democratic transition led by the Iranian people rather than imposed from outside.

A central moment of the rally was a speech by Shahin Ghobadi, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Addressing the crowd, he said the crisis in Iran cannot be resolved through appeasement or war, but requires what he described as “regime change by the Iranian people and their organized Resistance.”

Organizers also called on the European Union to adopt a clearer political stance by recognizing what they describe as an organized democratic alternative. They urged support for the NCRI’s proposed provisional government framework, presented as a transitional mechanism aimed at transferring power to the Iranian people and paving the way for free elections.

Protesters framed this proposal as a practical response to concerns about stability in a post-authoritarian scenario, arguing that a structured transition would help prevent chaos, protect national unity, and avoid the emergence of another form of authoritarian rule.

The rally also included calls for stronger measures against Iranian officials, including closing diplomatic missions in Europe and addressing allegations of human rights abuses through international accountability mechanisms.

Participants emphasized that the demonstration brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds, presenting what they described as a unified national message. Interviews conducted during the rally highlighted concerns over both ongoing conflict and internal repression, with many calling for peace and democratic change.

By staging the protest alongside the EU summit, organizers sought to influence European policymakers and encourage a reassessment of current approaches toward Iran. Demonstrators argued that the future of the country should be determined by its people, urging Europe to align its policies with that principle by supporting democratic change and rejecting both military escalation and continued engagement without conditions.