On Wednesday, September 26th, demonstrators at the Free Iran Rally in New York City rallied near the UN Headquarters in protest at the Iranian regime. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was attending the United Nations General Assembly.

Mascots of Rouhani and Khamenei holding skeletons in hand representing murderous nature of the mullahs regime roam around the anti-Rouhani demonstration in New York in front of the @UN#IStandWithMaryamRajavi#No2Rouhani @VOAIran #unga73 ⁦#UNGA ⁦⁦@AFP⁩ @USUN pic.twitter.com/KXtNNdIqAY

— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) September 26, 2018

39 Years of Repression

The Iranian-American community and supporters of the Iranian opposition groups, including the People’s Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (MEK) and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), gathered in front of the UN plaza.

“The face of #Iran'ian Opposition,” reads the sign that a protester holds at the Iranian dissidents’ demonstration against Rouhani at the @UN#IStandWithMaryamRajavi#No2Rouhani @VOAIran #unga73 ⁦#UNGA ⁦⁦@AFP⁩ @AmbJohnBolton⁩ pic.twitter.com/0aVnlFWYfx

— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) September 26, 2018

They recounted 39 years of repression under the tyrannical regime of the mullahs and called on the US and the international community to recognise the Iranian resistance as a viable alternative to the mullahs’ rule.

Iranians suffer intense persecution, with strict restrictions on religious freedom. The US State Department estimates that more than 600 Christians have been imprisoned for their faith in the last eight years.

The regime has adopted extremely violent and repressive strategies to maintain its position in power. The summer of 1988 was one of the worst periods in Iran’s history. More than 30,000 members of the MEK and the Iranian opposition were executed for their political beliefs.

The executions are still occurring today. Iran executes more of its own citizens than any other country on earth. Since Rouhani came to power five years ago, more than 3,500 citizens have been executed.

Iran Needs International Support

They also called for the international community to take concrete steps towards ending the mullahs’ warmongering foreign policy, nuclear development programs, and financing of foreign terrorism.

"What do we want? Regime change in Iran"
"When do we want it? Now, Now, Now"

New York
Supporters of #Iran opposition PMOI/MEK protesting the presence of mullahs' president Hassan Rouhani at the #UNGA.#No2Rouhani#IStandWithMaryamRajavi pic.twitter.com/EpuYi3lAng

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 26, 2018

Victims of the regime’s warmongering policies were also represented. Dr. Fahmi Kheirollah from the Syrian opposition addressed the crowd, pledging, “the Iranian people will prevail and we will come to Tehran to celebrate with you!”

Guest Speakers Addressed the Crowd

Those gathered shouted chants of “terrorist Rouhani! Out of New York!”, “Down with the dictator!”, and “Victory is ours!”

Guest speakers also pledged their support to the Iranian resistance movement. Pastor Linda told protestors, “Iranians have suffered enough!” and explained, “negotiations can no longer save the mullahs”.

Senator Robert Torricelli also pledged his support to the throng. “Rouhani does not belong among the heads of state”, he said, adding, “he is a thug, a tyrant and a murderer”.

Sen. Robert Torricelli at the NY rally during the UN General Assembly:

"Turn your back on the regime & stand with the people of Iran."

To Rouhani:
"We have given up on reform. You can't fool us anymore with change or phony elections… We want a free Iran."#No2Rouhani#UNGA pic.twitter.com/QC3cuJHuMa

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 25, 2018

Torricelli also condemned the regime’s use of state-sponsored terror. He said, “Rouhani in June dispatched his own diplomats to plant a bomb to kill all of us”, referring to the failed terror attack on the NCRI’s Grand Gathering in Paris earlier this year.

Torricelli also had a message for Rouhani. “We have given up on reform. You can’t fool us anymore with change or phoney elections… We want a free Iran”, he said.

The protesters were adamant in their demands. They shouted that Rouhani does not deserve his seat at the UN General Assembly, suggesting that President-elect of the NCRI and leader of the MEK, Maryam Rajavi, should be there instead.

Rouhani does not deserve to walk among other legitimate heads of state. He is a tyrant and a dictator. Instead of handshakes, he should be in handcuffs for the human rights abuses carried out against his own tortured population.

Staff Writer