One hundred and sixty-five Belgian municipalities have signed a declaration of support for the Iranian resistance, the non-profit organisation Culture, Art and Human Rights announced on Friday at the town hall in Vilvoorde, Flemish Brabant.
The organisation had initially presented the declaration several months ago, a year after the death of 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian, Mahsa Amini, who passed away after being detained by Iran’s morality police for violating the country’s female dress code. Her death triggered widespread controversy and prompted a wave of protests in Iran and elsewhere.
“Our campaign aims to refocus on resistance in Iran,” explained Mehdi Nobari, president of Culture, Arts and Human Rights. “Mayors are supporting the resistance and denouncing the regime’s repression. We urge the government, in the context of Belgium’s presidency of the EU Council, to convey a strong message.”
The campaign aligns with a 10-point plan drawn up by Maryam Rajavi, president of the National Council of Resistance in Iran (NCRI), which advocates for a secular, democratic and gender-equal republic in Iran.
Historical photographs dating back to the 1979 Iranian revolution were also shown on Friday at the Vilvoorde town hall.
