Lars Rise, former Norwegian parliamentarian and chair of the Norwegian Friends of a Free Iran Committee, condemned the regime’s use of executions to intimidate dissent and called for stronger international action. He also questioned the sources of support for Reza Pahlavi’s rival opposition movement.
Lars Rise Condemns Executions and International Silence on Iran
Lars Rise, a former member of Norway’s parliament and chair of the Norwegian Friends of a Free Iran Committee, has called for stronger international action against Iran’s escalating use of capital punishment, warning that executions are being used to terrorize society and deter people from joining the opposition.
Speaking at a conference marking the World Day Against the Death Penalty on October 10, Rise expressed solidarity with the families of prisoners facing execution and urged democratic governments to take a firmer stance against Iran’s regime.
He cited reports that approximately 50 people had been executed in the preceding months, while around 100 others remained at risk of execution. The prospect of families waiting in fear for news of their imprisoned relatives, he said, made the situation particularly distressing.
Rise argued that the scale of executions in Iran demands a response that goes beyond statements of concern. He called on supporters of human rights to participate in protests against capital punishment and press their governments to challenge the regime’s practices.
Executions as a Tool of Intimidation
Drawing on Norway’s own history, Rise recalled the execution of Vidkun Quisling, the Norwegian collaborator with Nazi Germany during World War II. He said his mother had questioned whether execution was necessary, believing that imprisonment would have been a more appropriate punishment for Quisling’s crimes.
The comparison underscored Rise’s opposition to capital punishment and his concern about its use in Iran, where he described executions as part of a broader strategy of repression.
In his assessment, the regime uses death sentences not only to punish individual prisoners but also to spread fear throughout society and discourage people from supporting organized opposition. He emphasized the suffering of families whose relatives have received death sentences and who live under the constant threat of their execution.
Rise identified the international community’s limited public response as one of the most troubling aspects of the crisis. He argued that governments capable of taking strong positions on other international issues should demonstrate greater resolve in confronting executions and repression in Iran.
Questions Over Support for Reza Pahlavi’s Movement
Rise also addressed the emergence of a rival opposition current led by Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former shah. Drawing on developments he said he had observed in Norway, he raised questions about the sources of financial and organizational support available to Pahlavi’s supporters.
According to Rise, Pahlavi supporters in Norway appeared to benefit from substantial backing through organizations and sources whose funding was not transparent. He further argued that Iran’s regime viewed the emergence of the monarchist movement as a potentially favorable development if it could be presented as an alternative to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
Rise’s remarks reflected his concern about the political implications of competing opposition currents and the importance of scrutinizing the sources of support behind them. His comments on funding and the regime’s attitude were presented as his assessment of developments he had observed, rather than as independently established findings.
The issue is significant in the broader debate over Iran’s political future, particularly the question of whether an alternative to the current clerical system would establish democratic institutions or restore a form of monarchical rule.
Calling for Stronger International Action
Rise urged supporters of a free Iran to demand more forceful responses from their governments. He argued that the international community must not allow the regime’s use of executions to proceed without sustained political consequences.
He also expressed confidence in the persistence of Iran’s organized resistance, describing its continued commitment to political change as a source of encouragement. He said he was proud to be part of the movement supporting a future based on peace and democracy for the Iranian people.
Concluding his remarks, Rise offered his support to members of the Iranian resistance, including those based at Ashraf 3 in Albania, and praised their continued efforts.
His speech linked the immediate demand to halt executions with the wider question of Iran’s political future. He called for international solidarity with the Iranian people, stronger pressure on the regime, and continued support for the struggle to establish a democratic Iran.