On September 6, 2025, the streets of Brussels pulsed with the chants and banners of tens of thousands of Iranians and their supporters, all gathered for what organizers hailed as the largest Iranian opposition rally in Europe to date. The event marked the 60th anniversary of the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI/MEK), but it was far more than a commemoration—it was a show of defiance, unity, and hope for a different future for Iran.
At the heart of the rally was a clear message: support for Maryam Rajavi’s ‘Third Option.’ This vision, long championed by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and its president-elect, rejects both foreign military intervention and the policy of appeasement toward Tehran. Instead, it calls for regime change by the Iranian people themselves and their organized resistance. “No to War, No to Appeasement,” the banners read, “Yes to Regime Change by the People.”
The day’s significance was underscored by a remarkable lineup of international speakers. Maryam Rajavi herself laid out her blueprint for a secular, democratic, non-nuclear Iran. She was joined by a host of prominent political figures: Mike Pence, former Vice President of the United States; Guy Verhofstadt, former Prime Minister of Belgium; Alejo Vidal-Quadras, former Vice President of the European Parliament and a victim of Iranian regime terrorism; and John Bercow, former Speaker of the UK House of Commons, among others. The presence of such figures—many of them household names in the West—lent the event a gravitas that was hard to ignore.
Yet, as several speakers and commentators pointed out, the mainstream media largely did just that. Despite the rally’s scale and political import, coverage was almost non-existent across major news outlets. According to organizers and observers, this silence was not merely an oversight but reflected deeper issues in Western policy and press practices regarding Iran.
John Bercow’s speech, delivered with characteristic passion, captured much of the frustration and determination felt by those in attendance. “Let me mention at the outset the people of Ashraf 3, whose courage, whose commitment, and whose conviction are shining examples to supporters and champions of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law throughout the world,” Bercow began, referencing the MEK community in Albania. He praised the movement’s six-decade record as “a record of service, sacrifice, and selfless struggle for liberty, democracy, and the rule of law.”
Bercow did not mince words about the current state of Iran under the rule of the clerical regime. “Under that repressive, abominable, bestial state apparatus, Iran has been reduced to a worse state than at any time in living memory. The economy is on its knees. Public services have collapsed. The water supply is defective. It is an unmitigated disaster because the country is misruled by people who are there to serve themselves.” His condemnation of the regime’s repression was sharp: “We witness in Tehran repression as evidence not of strength, but repression as evidence of weakness. The dictators do what they do… not because they are strong, but because they are weak.”
He also took direct aim at those advocating a return to monarchy, dismissing the idea as “an abominable insult to the people of Iran.” In his words: “We don’t mean some baby Shah. We don’t mean some clown prince… Not needed, not wanted, not of any use whatsoever.” Instead, Bercow lauded the NCRI and MEK Resistance Units as “greater in number, bigger in scale of activity, and superior in reach than at any time,” crediting their growth and resilience to Maryam Rajavi’s leadership.
“For as long as I have breath in my lungs, I will support the cause of freedom for Iran,” Bercow pledged, closing his remarks with a call for unity and hope. He expressed his desire to one day “join other distinguished dignitaries in Tehran to laud and magnify and celebrate your democratic triumph.”
The rally’s message resonated far beyond those present in Brussels. It highlighted the risks faced by MEK supporters inside Iran, where even mentioning Maryam Rajavi or supporting the organization can result in arrest, torture, or execution. Recent killings of MEK supporters and Resistance Unit members inside Iran were cited as stark reminders of the regime’s brutality and the high stakes of dissent.
But the event also exposed uncomfortable truths about the West’s approach to Iran. As reported by organizers and echoed by speakers, many Western governments have long pursued a policy of appeasement toward Tehran. European diplomats have acknowledged that, in every negotiation with Iran, one of the regime’s first demands is to restrict the MEK and limit its activities. For decades, Tehran has orchestrated a campaign to demonize its main opposition, pushing the narrative that there is “no alternative” to its rule—a message too often echoed or accommodated by Western officials.
This political pressure, according to critics, has seeped into the media sphere. Editors, whether consciously or not, operate within the climate shaped by their governments’ policies. When Western governments treat the MEK as a bargaining chip in talks with Tehran, newsrooms often follow suit—marginalizing or ignoring the movement, regardless of its ability to mobilize tens of thousands in the heart of Europe. The rally in Brussels, then, became a litmus test for journalistic integrity. “Journalism’s duty is to reflect reality, not erase it,” one commentary noted. “If tens of thousands march in Brussels and international figures from the US, UK, and EU stand on the same platform as Maryam Rajavi, yet most of the press remains silent, then something is broken.”
The absence of mainstream coverage, some argued, amounted to a breach of journalism’s own professed standards—accuracy, impartiality, and responsibility to the truth. It raised questions about accountability to the public and the role of the media in shaping, rather than simply reporting, the narrative around Iran’s opposition.
As the rally concluded, its participants left with a sense of renewed purpose and solidarity. For many, the day was a reminder that the struggle for a free Iran is not just a domestic issue, but a global one—one that tests the principles of democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression far beyond Iran’s borders.
With the world watching—or perhaps, not watching—the Iranian opposition’s message from Brussels was clear: the fight for freedom continues, undeterred by repression at home or silence abroad. And for supporters like John Bercow and the thousands gathered in Brussels, hope remains alive that one day, the world will listen.
