Thousands rally for people of Iran in Munich
Responding to a call by Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to increase international pressure on Tehran, nearly 250,000 people demonstrated against the Iranian government on the sidelines of a meeting of world leaders in Germany.
The huge, rowdy rally in Munich, with drums beating and slogans chanting for regime change, was part of what Pahlavi described as a “global day of action” to support Iranians in the wake of deadly protests across the country.
He also called for demonstrations in Los Angeles and Toronto. The number of protesters reached nearly 250,000, more than organizers expected, police said in a post on X.
The huge crowd, waving green-white-red flags with lion and sun emblems, chanted “Change, change, regime change”. Iran used this flag before the 1979 Islamic Revolution that overthrew the Pahlavi dynasty.
Pahlavi warned at a press conference that there could be more deaths in Iran if “democracies stand by and watch” following Iran’s deadly crackdown on protesters last month.
“In an hour of deep danger, we gather to ask the question: Will the world stand with the Iranian people?” he asked. He added that the survival of the Iranian government “sends a clear signal to every tyrant: Kill enough people and you stay in power.”
Demonstrators at the Munich rally wore red berets titled “Make Iran Great Again” that mimicked the MAGA hats worn by supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Among those wearing hats was Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who addressed the crowd and was photographed holding his hat.
Many people at the rally waved banners depicting Pahlavi, some calling him king. The son of Iran’s deposed shah has been in exile for nearly 50 years but is trying to position himself as a player in Iran’s future.
The crowd chanted “Pahlavi for Iran” and “Democracy for Iran” while beating drums and cymbals.
Daniyal Mohtashamian, who came from Switzerland to speak on behalf of protesters facing repression in Iran, said: “We have high hopes and we look forward to seeing the regime change with hope.”
“There is an internet outage and their voices are not coming out of Iran,” he said.
About 500 protesters also marched in front of the presidential palace in Nicosia, Cyprus, many carrying banners bearing slogans against the Iranian government and in favor of Pahlavi.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that at least 7,005 people were killed in last month’s protests, including 214 by government forces.
It accurately counts deaths during previous rounds of unrest in Iran and relies on a network of activists in Iran to verify deaths.
The Iranian government announced its only death toll on January 21, saying 3,117 people were killed. Iran’s theocracy has in the past undercounted or not reported deaths from past unrest.
Iranian leaders are facing renewed pressure from Trump, who has threatened the United States with military action.
Trump wants Iran to further reduce its nuclear program. He suggested on Friday that regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen.”
