As international attention shifts away from the recent military escalation between Iran and Israel, concerns are mounting over a sharp increase in executions within Iran. According to Iran Human Rights Monitor, at least 81 prisoners were executed between 21 June and 21 July 2025—a 130% rise compared to the same period last year. The peak occurred between 20 and 21 July, with 21 executions carried out over three days. Since President Masoud Pezeshkian took office in August 2024, the number of executions has reached 1,459.
Belgian Parliamentary Response
The deteriorating human rights situation has drawn strong reactions in Belgium. On 18 July, the Belgian Federal Parliament adopted a resolution calling for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be designated as a terrorist organisation. The resolution also addressed the regime’s increasing use of the death penalty, particularly against political opponents, and called for the release of political prisoners.
The issue has also been addressed at the regional level: the Flemish Parliament recently passed a resolution focused on Iran’s human rights record, with particular attention to the execution of political prisoners, including 9 who were recently sentenced to death for their affiliation with a prominent opposition movement, People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK).
Iranian Diaspora Actions in Brussels
In parallel, members of the Iranian diaspora in Belgium have stepped up efforts to draw international attention to the situation. Over the past three weeks, the community has held three public rallies in Brussels—at Schuman Roundabout and Place du Luxembourg near the European Parliament—featuring photo displays of death row prisoners and calling on the European Union to take concrete action, including designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
Several Belgian and European parliamentarians participated in or expressed support for the demonstrations, adding political weight to the calls for action.
120 Parliamentarians Issue Joint Statement
Following that, on 22 July, a cross-party group of 120 Belgian parliamentarians from both the federal and regional assemblies — including foreign affairs committee chairs and senior political group and party leaders — signed a joint declaration calling for an end to executions and expressing support for a democratic future in Iran.
The statement, presented by Gérard Deprez,Ministre d’Etat, expressed support for the 10-point plan proposed by Maryam Rajavi, President-Elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). The plan outlines principles for a secular and democratic republic in Iran, including gender equality, abolition of the death penalty, separation of religion and state, peaceful coexistence, and a non-nuclear policy.
The parliamentarians explicitly reject any return to dictatorship, whether religious or monarchical, and stress the importance of pluralism and civic freedoms.
The “Third Option”
In his statement, Mr Deprez situated this declaration within a broader strategic debate. Citing the limitations of both military confrontation and diplomatic appeasement, he reiterated support for the “Third Option”—a policy framework presented by the NCRI that calls for democratic change led by the Iranian people and their organised resistance, without foreign military intervention.
“Lasting peace and change in Iran will not come through foreign military intervention or appeasement. It must come from empowering the Iranian people,” Deprez stated.
Belgian parliamentarians stressed that the Iranian people, especially its youth and the “resistance units” within the country, have the right to confront the IRGC and seek regime change.
A Shift in European Engagement?
The joint statement and parliamentary resolution suggest a growing readiness within European democracies to adopt a firmer stance on Iran’s internal repression. While such initiatives do not constitute official government policy, the broad political support they enjoy in Belgium may influence future discussions within the EU.
Whether these measures will lead to concrete policy shifts—such as sanctions, blacklisting of the IRGC, or stronger engagement with the Iranian opposition—remains to be seen. But the message from a significant segment of Belgium’s political class is clear: The Iranian people’s right to self-determination and their pursuit of a democratic and secular republic must be recognised.
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