British and French leaders highlight resilience of Iranian resistance, reject monarchy narratives, and stress people-driven transition
At the April 10 conference in Paris organized by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), prominent European figures continued to deliver forceful messages of solidarity with the Iranian people and condemnation of the regime’s executions.
Following earlier remarks, John Bercow and Jean-François Legaret emphasized that repression cannot extinguish the demand for freedom and that democratic change in Iran will ultimately be driven by its people.
“You Cannot Execute an Idea”
Opening his remarks, Bercow praised Maryam Rajavi and the Iranian Resistance:
“Mrs. Rajavi… [is] one of the most courageous people on the face of the planet.”
He framed the executions as an attempt to destroy a movement that cannot be eliminated:
“You cannot execute an idea… We are here to honor lives lost, not beliefs defeated.”
Bercow argued that the regime fundamentally misunderstands human conviction:
“You can kill people… but you cannot make them not think what they do think.”
He stressed that despite decades of repression, the desire for freedom remains intact:
“They will not extinguish the flame of freedom… it burns brightly… across the globe.”
Courage vs. “Cowardice of the Regime”
Bercow drew a sharp moral contrast between the Iranian Resistance and the ruling system:
“A contrast between courage… and utter, despicable… cowardice.”
Defining true courage, he stated:
“Courage is insisting on championing your cause even when you know… it is likely to bring your own demise.”
He emphasized that many of those executed knowingly risked their lives:
“People… with the most extraordinary futures… [whose] commitment… exceeded [their] zest for life.”
By contrast, he described the regime’s reliance on executions as a sign of weakness and moral bankruptcy.
Democracy as a Universal Value
Rejecting claims that democratic principles are “Western,” Bercow argued:
“A belief in freedom, in democracy, in the rule of law… is not some Western imperialist nostrum. It’s… human values.”
He underscored the essence of democratic governance:
“The government should serve the people to whom it is accountable.”
In a direct message to the Iranian leadership, he added:
“Stop telling the people what they must have… and instead… ask people what they want.”
Rejection of Monarchical Alternatives
Bercow also strongly dismissed Reza Pahlavi as a viable alternative:
“You are… a sideshow… irrelevant to the real struggle.”
He argued that Iran’s future will not be determined by exiled figures but by those actively resisting:
“The struggle… is between a… regime and Mrs. Rajavi’s championship of freedom.”
“There Will Be No Impunity”
Echoing earlier speakers, Bercow warned that accountability is inevitable:
“There will be no impunity. The day of reckoning will arrive.”
Referencing historical justice processes, he added:
“Just as the Nazis paid the price… so the… dictatorship in Tehran will have to pay.”
He concluded with confidence in the outcome:
“Our cause… will prevail. That is the end of the matter.”
War, Disinformation, and the Reality on the Ground
Jean-François Legaret focused on the broader geopolitical context, warning against confusion and misinformation:
“There has never been so much uncertainty… There is good news, there is bad news, and then there is fake news.”
While cautiously welcoming a ceasefire, he warned that the regime has in fact hardened:
“We are dealing with a regime that has hardened considerably.”
He pointed to continued executions as evidence:
“These thirteen faces… have been horribly executed over the past few days.”
No External Solution to Iran’s Crisis
Legaret firmly rejected the idea that military intervention can bring democratic change:
“It is not… strikes… that will put an end to the mullahs’ regime.”
Instead, he emphasized:
“A democratic transition… can only be achieved… [by] the insurrection of the Iranian people.”
He described such an uprising not as destructive, but transformative:
“Insurrection is not a war for hate… it is a war for peace, for democracy, and for the future.”
Criticism of Political Illusions
Like other speakers, Legaret dismissed monarchist narratives:
“The son of the Shah… promises… elections… His father had already made the same promises without ever keeping them.”
He questioned the legitimacy of such claims:
“What is his experience and what is his legitimacy?”
The Enduring Power of Sacrifice
Reflecting on the victims, Legaret emphasized that their deaths strengthen, rather than weaken, the movement:
“They have passed a mission on to us… to continue their action until freedom is achieved.”
Quoting Charles Péguy, he added:
“Blessed are those who died for a just cause.”
He concluded with a call to carry forward their legacy:
“Let us… approach [the future] with the enthusiasm and hope transmitted to us… by the martyrs we honor today.”
A Unified Message: Freedom Through the People
Both Bercow and Legaret reinforced a central conclusion of the conference: repression, war, and external political alternatives cannot determine Iran’s future.
Instead, as repeatedly emphasized throughout the event, the decisive force will be the Iranian people themselves—organized, determined, and unwilling to abandon their pursuit of freedom and democracy.
