Since 28 December, the world has been witnessing the emergence of a historic national protest movement in Iran—one that openly defies the Islamic Republic. 

Protesters have been met with brutal violence, including attacks on wounded demonstrators inside hospitals. Following a near-total internet shutdown, reports began to emerge of a massacre, with multiple credible sources indicating that thousands of victims, including children, may have been killed. 

We face a moral and political responsibility toward Iranian citizens—especially children and young people—who are demanding nothing more than basic human rights and are instead subjected to the most extreme and brutal forms of state violence. 

We believe the following points must now be stated clearly and acted upon publicly: Christians and people of conscience should call upon their elected representatives to hold Iranian authorities accountable and to state openly that the regime’s actions have been in violation of international law. 

The Islamic Republic has also significantly undermined its legitimacy through systematic repression and mass violence. Countries should recall their ambassadors from Iran as a clear signal that relations cannot continue as normal. The Iranian regime can no longer be regarded as a legitimate member of the international community, having gravely violated both national and international laws. 

There must be no impunity for those responsible for crimes against the Iranian people; perpetrators must be identified and brought to justice through appropriate international mechanisms. For far too long, Western governments have tiptoed around this issue, prioritising diplomatic convenience and resource dependency. Meanwhile, the regime’s behaviour has steadily worsened. The time has come for a decisive change in policy. There can be no return to “business as usual” with this regime. 

Governments must also consider the long-term positive impact that the fall of this regime and the emergence of a secular, democratic government in Iran could have—not only for Iranians, but for regional and global stability. The Iranian government has consistently interfered across the region, fuelling conflict and suffering in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Palestine. This destabilising role must be confronted and brought to an end. 

The scale, speed, and brutality of the violence in Iran demand an urgent and principled response. Silence, delay, and half-measures only embolden further atrocities. The Iranian people deserve protection, justice, and international solidarity—not words without consequence.

Strong resolutions must be pursued at the EU and UN levels to condemn the regime’s actions and to express solidarity with the Iranian people. 

While documentation and reporting are essential, they are insufficient without concrete political consequences. For the past 47 years, resolutions, statements of concern, and sanctions have demonstrably failed to deter the Iranian regime from committing grave crimes against its own citizens. Despite repeated international condemnation, state violence has continued unabated, leaving ordinary Iranians as the primary victims. 

We therefore urge the international community, governments, churches, and international organisations to move beyond symbolic measures and to develop effective mechanisms to protect the Iranian people from ongoing and systematic state violence. What is unfolding in Iran today is not an internal political dispute—it is a sustained assault on human dignity, life, and fundamental rights.