Young protesters in Zahedan reaffirm their opposition to both monarchical and religious dictatorship, calling for freedom, equality, independence, and a democratic republic.
Resistance Units and rebellious youth in Zahedan carried out a new campaign of activities on Friday, October 30, 2026, promoting the slogan “No Shah, No Mullahs” and rejecting any return to monarchical rule or continuation of the current religious dictatorship.
Through slogans and messages reflecting statements by Massoud Rajavi and Maryam Rajavi, the activists emphasized that Iran’s future must be based on freedom, national independence, equality, and a democratic republic—not the restoration of another form of authoritarian rule.
‘No Shah, No Mullahs’: Rejecting Both Dictatorships
The messages reiterated the position that dictatorship does not become acceptable simply by changing its appearance. Whether imposed through a crown or a clerical turban, authoritarian rule remains incompatible with the Iranian people’s aspirations for freedom.
In one of his statements, Massoud Rajavi described the policy of “No Shah, No Mullahs” as the democratic, national, patriotic, and revolutionary position in Iran’s present historical circumstances. He also linked it to the historical tradition of Mohammad Mossadegh’s policy of negative equilibrium, emphasizing independence from both domestic despotism and foreign domination.
The slogans in Zahedan echoed this position, rejecting the notion that Iran must choose between the former monarchy and the current religious dictatorship.
Maryam Rajavi has similarly stressed that the Iranian people’s successive uprisings have demonstrated their rejection of all forms of dictatorship, whether the Shah’s or the mullahs’. She has described the prospect of restoring monarchical authoritarianism as an illusion and warned against political alternatives that undermine the people’s struggle for democratic change.
Freedom, Equality, and Independence as the Alternative
The messages also outlined the political and social principles that the activists associate with Iran’s future. These include a society free from dictatorship, discrimination, exploitation, and foreign dependency.
Maryam Rajavi has emphasized that the commitment to freedom must encompass all Iranians, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, belief, or political conviction. She has also stressed that establishing a free Iran is the responsibility of the Iranian people and their organized resistance.
The slogans displayed by the youth in Zahedan reflected these demands, including:
- “Neither Shah nor Mullah—Freedom and a Democratic Republic.”
- “Neither Monarchy nor Supreme Leadership—Democracy and Equality.”
The emphasis on equality and democratic governance reflects a rejection of both hereditary rule and the concentration of political power in the hands of a religious establishment.
From Zahedan to Tehran: A Shared Message Against Despotism
The activists also highlighted the nationwide dimension of their message, using the slogan:
- “From Zahedan to Tehran, death to the oppressor, whether Shah or Supreme Leader.”
Other slogans condemned the historical record of both monarchical and clerical rule, drawing a direct connection between the two systems of authoritarianism.
The campaign comes amid continuing repression of political opponents and the use of executions as an instrument of intimidation by Iran’s regime. Maryam Rajavi has warned that the regime’s response to demands for democratic change increasingly relies on executions and the persecution of political prisoners and participants in popular uprisings.
The activities in Zahedan once again brought the slogan “No Shah, No Mullahs” into public focus. Their central message was that replacing one dictatorship with another cannot fulfill the Iranian people’s demand for freedom. The alternative expressed in the activists’ messages is a democratic republic founded on popular sovereignty, equality, independence, and the rejection of every form of despotism.