The below statement was written by APF member Ray Gaston, and speaks for us all.

Churches and faith communities across the UK stand in solidarity with the people of Iran as they once again protest against dictatorship, repression, and economic injustice. For many years, our congregations have welcomed Iranian refugees and asylum seekers who have fled religious, political, and cultural persecution under the current theocratic regime. Through pastoral care and personal relationships, we have heard first-hand accounts of intimidation, imprisonment, violence, and fear inflicted by the authorities of the Islamic Republic.

Today, large-scale protests are taking place across Iran. These protests are broader and more widespread than those of 2022 and reflect deep, long-standing opposition to authoritarian rule. As in previous uprisings, the regime has responded with brutal force, mass arrests, and internet shutdowns aimed at suppressing evidence of human rights abuses and silencing dissent. At the centre of this repression is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), alongside its paramilitary militia, the Basij. Their record of violence inside Iran is well documented. The IRGC also operates beyond Iran’s borders, harassing and intimidating dissidents abroad. It is deeply concerning that such an organisation is still permitted to operate legally in the United Kingdom.

We therefore call on the UK government to act with clarity and moral leadership:  To speak out clearly and publicly in support of the Iranian people and their right to protest peacefully, as several European governments have already done.  To move decisively towards proscribing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation, following the example set by Canada and other countries.

Such action would help protect Iranian dissidents in the UK, prevent IRGC-linked activity on British soil, and send a clear message that repression and violence will not be met with silence. This moment is urgent. Internet blackouts continue, and reports of violent repression persist. Iranian members of our congregations are deeply fearful for the safety of their friends and families and long for freedom, dignity, and justice in their homeland. We urge the UK to stand firmly on the side of human rights and accountability.