Patrizia Manassero recalls Cuneo’s historic ties with the Iranian Resistance, condemns executions and repression in Iran, and calls for perseverance in the fight for freedom and democracy
Patrizia Manassero, mayor of the Italian city of Cuneo and a former member of the Italian Senate (2013–2018), has reaffirmed her city’s solidarity with the Iranian Resistance and the international campaign to keep public attention focused on human rights violations and the struggle for democracy in Iran.
In an interview with Simay-e Azadi, Manassero described a recent solidarity conference in Cuneo as an important opportunity to examine the situation in Iran and renew the city’s longstanding commitment to the Iranian people’s aspirations for freedom.
The conference was organized through the initiative of the Association of Iranian Physicians in Cuneo and the Cuneo branch of the National Association of Italian Partisans (ANPI), in cooperation with the Cuneo municipal administration. It brought together numerous mayors and speakers who provided different perspectives on developments in Iran.
Manassero said the gathering had once again allowed the city and its municipal administration to express their wholehearted solidarity with the Iranian Resistance and the international efforts to ensure that Iran’s situation remains on the world’s agenda.
Cuneo’s legacy of resistance and solidarity with Iran
The mayor emphasized that Cuneo’s solidarity with oppressed peoples is deeply rooted in the city’s own history. The region played an important role in the Italian Resistance against fascism and Nazism, a struggle marked by enormous sacrifices among both civilians and military personnel.
She explained that the values of freedom and democracy are embedded in Cuneo’s identity, culture, and collective memory.
“Freedom and democracy are woven into our fabric, our spirit, and our culture,” Manassero said, adding that the city stands alongside all peoples suffering under authoritarian rule, particularly the people of Iran.
She stressed that Cuneo’s support for the Iranian people is not merely a symbolic gesture but reflects the city’s historical experience of confronting dictatorship and defending democratic values.
Longstanding ties with the Iranian Resistance
Manassero also recalled Cuneo’s longstanding institutional relationship with the Iranian Resistance.
In 2008, Cuneo established a sister-city relationship with Ashraf. The city’s then-mayor, Alberto Valmaggia, who also attended the recent gathering, personally visited Ashraf.
Following that visit, Cuneo granted honorary citizenship to Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
Manassero described Rajavi’s message to the conference as particularly meaningful, saying it renewed the longstanding bond between Cuneo and the Iranian Resistance.
The mayor’s reference to this history underscored the continuity of Cuneo’s support for the Iranian people’s struggle and its commitment to maintaining international solidarity.
Condemnation of executions and repression in Iran
Turning to the human rights situation, Manassero expressed deep concern over reports of repression against young people and ordinary citizens who demand freedom and democracy.
She condemned the imprisonment of protesters, the accusations of blasphemy and insults against religious sanctities used against detainees, and the harsh treatment of prisoners in Iran’s jails.
She also expressed particular outrage at the execution of political and other prisoners.
“The high number of victims of executions is in no way acceptable,” she said.
Her remarks highlighted the continuing human cost of repression in Iran, where demands for basic freedoms and democratic rights are met with imprisonment, intimidation, and, in many cases, execution.
A message of hope and perseverance
Concluding her remarks, Manassero said Cuneo could offer the Iranian people a message of hope: that democracy and freedom would ultimately prevail over oppression and authoritarianism.
She acknowledged that the road to freedom is neither easy nor short, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and determination.
“We know that this path is never easy, and we believe that we must persevere and never retreat, even for a moment,” she said.
Manassero’s message reflects the enduring solidarity between Cuneo and the Iranian Resistance, rooted in a shared historical understanding that freedom and democracy require courage, persistence, and resistance to dictatorship.