French Ban on NCRI Demonstration — French authorities prohibited a large authorized rally by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and PMOI in Paris on June 20, citing security concerns, leading to police dispersal of demonstrators and accusations of diplomatic pressure from Iran.

Symbol of Organized Resistance — The movement framed the event as a major show of support for democratic change in Iran, rejecting both the current regime and monarchy, while emphasizing internal resistance and international solidarity.

Broader Geopolitical Message — The NCRI, led by Maryam Rajavi, positions itself as a democratic alternative to the Iranian regime, criticizing Western appeasement and arguing that any peace agreement must include an end to executions and repression.

The slogan, “No to Executions, No to War, No to Appeasement; Neither Shah nor Sheikh; Yes to Democratic Change by the Iranian People and Organized Resistance,” has in recent years become a defining element of the political discourse of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). From the movement’s perspective, the slogan reflects the voice of a society that has endured decades of repression, crisis, and violence while continuing to demand democratic change through organized resistance.

Supporters of this long-standing political coalition argue that the solution to Iran’s crisis lies neither in foreign military intervention, nor in appeasement of the ruling regime, nor in a return to monarchy. Rather, they maintain that a democratic political system must be established by the Iranian people themselves. They present the National Council of Resistance of Iran as an organized democratic alternative with a transitional program and broad international support.

Within this context, the June 20, 2026 demonstration in Paris—organized to coincide with the anniversary of the June 20,1981 events in Iran—was described by its organizers as a symbol of the continuity of organized resistance. The rally had been officially registered and authorized months in advance.........

© Eurasia Review