The Mouvement Réformateur is mobilising on several parliamentary fronts to support the Iranian people against the regime's repression. We proudly and loudly stand by our commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Iran is the scene of massive mobilisations driven by a population in distress. Runaway inflation, collapsing purchasing power, a persistent water crisis and the lack of prospects for a predominantly young population are fuelling this protest movement, which goes far beyond purely socio-economic demands. This movement expresses a deep rejection of an authoritarian and theocratic regime that severely restricts fundamental freedoms.
In response to this peaceful protest, the Iranian authorities are responding with unacceptable violence. Disproportionate use of force against protesters, live ammunition, arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances, torture and executions, violations of the right to a fair trial, internet shutdowns to silence the population: the facts documented by international human rights organisations are chilling. Organisations report thousands of deaths. These practices constitute serious violations of international norms and humanitarian law and cannot remain without a response from the international community.
The Mouvement Réformateur reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the universal values of freedom, dignity and equality. Faced with authoritarianism around the world, indifference is a form of complicity. The MR demonstrates this by taking action in several parliaments.
MR President Georges-Louis Bouchez declared in numerous interventions: “This freedom of expression seems so natural to us, so natural that some, ultimately, do not realise how precious it is. In Iran, we see true courage: that of these women and men who are ready to pay with their lives for the establishment of a liberal project. We liberals must always stand alongside these women and men, everywhere in the world, who fight for freedom, who fight for equality, who fight for the possibility of having competing political projects that confront one another. Because divergence is the engine of democracy. It is not the problem, it is the solution. In Iran today, either you follow the regime, or you die. That is why we must highlight these women and men, not forget them and, above all, make their struggle known.”
The resolution tabled by the MR group in the federal parliament calls on the federal government, in consultation with its European partners, to act firmly and consistently. “What is at stake today in Iran goes beyond a passing crisis. It is a people demanding dignity, freedom and a democratic future, and facing bloody and systematic repression,” stresses Daniel Bacquelaine.
The text unreservedly condemns the use of force, arbitrary arrests, torture and executions. It reaffirms Belgium's full solidarity with peaceful protesters, particularly women and young people, in line with the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. As a reminder, in 2025 alone, arbitrary executions claimed more than 1,500 lives, meaning one Iranian was killed every 5 hours.
But the resolution goes further. Its point 11 represents a strong political signal: it calls for the immediate development of a set of political and economic measures that will serve as the basis for future relations with a new democratic Iran, founded on secularism, the rule of law, respect for human rights, equality between women and men, justice for the crimes committed since 1979, compliance with climate and international commitments, and an end to hostage diplomacy.
“Supporting the Iranian people is not just about denouncing the current repression. It is also about preparing for the future and clearly stating that Europe will be there when a democratic regime emerges. We must offer a credible prospect: constructive, economic and political relations, provided that fundamental principles are respected,” adds Group Leader Benoit Piedboeuf.
“The courage of Iranian women and men compels us. Today we met several members of the Iranian diaspora who are heavily involved in the fight against the mullahs' regime. We must stand alongside them to create the conditions for a free, secular Iran, respected in its territorial integrity and fully sovereign to write a new chapter in its history. We are at a pivotal, decisive moment, and we must seize it,” stresses Denis Ducarme.
Group Leader in the Parliament of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation Diana Nikolic declared: “Faced with extremely brutal repression, silence is not an option. The MR condemns the violence carried out by the Iranian regime and expresses its solidarity with the population, particularly the women and young people who, at risk of their lives, are peacefully mobilising to demand freedom, security, dignity and equality.”
In this respect, the MR group in the Parliament of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, together with its majority partner, has tabled a resolution expressing unequivocal support for the Iranian people's protest movement and firmly condemning the bloody repression carried out by the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This initiative is led by Group Leader Diana Nikolic and MPs Gaëtan Van Goidsenhoven, Valérie De Bue and Charles Gardier.
Gaëtan Van Goidsenhoven, one of the initiators: “The Iranian authorities must immediately stop this brutal repression and respect the fundamental right to protest. Every life matters, every freedom matters.”
Valérie De Bue emphasises: “What is happening in Iran reminds us that the freedoms we take for granted are fragile. We must be the bulwark against authoritarianism, wherever it appears. The MR is leading this fight for human rights.”
Charles Gardier: “The Iranian people are setting an example for us. These women and men are risking their lives for freedom. Our duty, as liberal elected representatives, is to support them relentlessly and to make their voices heard by the international community.”