May 18, 2025 – A substantial group of Irish parliamentarians from both Seanad Éireann and Dáil Éireann have released a joint declaration voicing serious alarm over the deepening human rights crisis in Iran. In their statement, they advocate for global recognition of the Iranian people’s right to seek democratic change and express support for the organized opposition’s platform as a credible path toward a free Iran.
The declaration draws attention to Iran’s deteriorating human rights conditions, noting that more than 1,000 executions were recorded in 2024 alone. It strongly criticizes the regime’s enforcement of the so-called “Hijab and Chastity Law,” describing it as a mechanism for forced veiling, suppression of protesting women, and prevention of future demonstrations. The statement also condemns the death sentences handed down in late 2024 to nine political prisoners, underscoring what the Irish lawmakers describe as Tehran’s fear of an organized resistance.
According to the statement, regional shifts—such as the collapse of Hezbollah’s influence and the fall of Syria’s dictatorship—have dealt significant blows to the Iranian regime’s strategy for survival. The signatories argue that continuing to appease this faltering regime betrays the core principles of democracy, fuels internal repression, and poses a broader risk to global security due to the regime’s nuclear ambitions and support for terrorism.