In Support of the Iranian People and a Democratic Transition in Iran

We, the undersigned residents of Switzerland, call upon the Swiss Federal Council and the Swiss Parliament to take principled and decisive action in response to the ongoing crimes and repression committed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The current regime in Iran has lost its legitimacy through systematic violence against the people of Iran. The mass killing of peaceful protesters, the use of military-grade weapons against civilians, hospital raids and execution of the wounded, widespread imprisonment, torture, and executions constitute grave violations of human rights and international law. A government that wages war against its own people cannot be treated as a legitimate partner. Switzerland, as a country founded on democracy, neutrality, human rights, and the rule of law, has both a moral and political responsibility to stand clearly with the people of Iran.

We therefore respectfully demand that the Swiss authorities:

1. End political support that enables the regime’s survival. Switzerland must reassess its role as a diplomatic intermediary between the Islamic Republic and Western governments. While Switzerland’s tradition of mediation is respected, it must not serve to prolong the survival of a regime that has committed mass atrocities against the Iranian nation. Switzerland should ensure that its diplomatic channels are not used to legitimize or stabilize a government that has lost the consent of the Iranian people.

2. Designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. Switzerland should follow the European Union’s example and designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. This must include:

• Freezing all IRGC-linked financial assets in Switzerland
  

• Preventing financial networks operating from Swiss soil.

The wealth extracted through corruption and repression belongs to the Iranian people and should be safeguarded for restitution in a future democratic Iran.

3. Expel representatives of the regime. Switzerland should:

• Expel the ambassador and diplomatic representatives of the Islamic Republic
  

• Revoke residency rights and privileges of regime-affiliated individuals, members of the IRGC, and persons directly linked to its operations who are present in Switzerland under diplomatic, economic, or other forms of official cover.

Swiss soil must not be a safe haven for those responsible for repression.

4. Close the Iranian embassy and the regime-backed centers. Switzerland must close the Iranian embassy and political centers directly or indirectly controlled by the IRGC or the Islamic Republic. These centers have been reported to:

• Spread regime propaganda and radical values in Europe
  

• Intimidate and monitor members of the Iranian diaspora
  

• Engage in transnational repression that endangers Swiss residents of Iranian background

The safety of residents in Switzerland must take priority.

5. Demand immediate release of political prisoners. Switzerland should publicly and consistently demand the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Iran. This includes activists, journalists, students, women's rights defenders, labor organizers, ethnic and religious minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals imprisoned for exercising their fundamental rights.

6. Prepare for democratic transition. Switzerland should prepare, both diplomatically and legally, for a democratic transition in Iran, including establishing a framework for recognizing a legitimate transitional government once it is formed. We further call upon the Swiss Parliament to invite Reza Pahlavi to present his vision and roadmap for a secular, democratic Iran, as he has emerged as a prominent transitional figure with significant support among Iranians both inside the country and across the diaspora.

The people of Iran are risking their lives for freedom, democracy, gender equality, and human rights, values that Switzerland itself embodies. We urge the Swiss government to stand firmly with the Iranian people and to ensure that Switzerland does not contribute, directly or indirectly, to the survival of a regime that has forfeited its legitimacy.

Residents of Switzerland in support of a free Iran