Launch of the “Free Iran Congress” in London with Broad Opposition Participation and Prominent Presence of the Ahwazi Democratic Solidarity Party
London – March 28, 2026
The first day of the “Free Iran Congress” was held on Saturday, March 28, in London. This two-day gathering, according to its organizers, aims to create a multi-voiced platform for dialogue, convergence, and cooperation among various opposition forces, focusing on practical pathways for democratic transition, human rights, and pluralism in Iran.
In this context, Majid Zamani, one of the organizers, stated that hundreds of civil society activists, political figures, legal experts, academics, entrepreneurs, and Iranian activists are taking part in the congress. According to him, participants come from diverse political, civic, and ethnic backgrounds, yet share a common principle: ending authoritarian rule and moving toward a democratic future based on human rights and pluralism.
The organizers emphasized that, given Iran’s deep internal crises as well as growing external uncertainties, no single group or current can determine the country’s future on its own. In their view, a sustainable transition will only be possible if different political and civil forces, despite their differences, cooperate on a set of shared minimum principles.
They also stressed that the congress does not seek to impose a single political vision or claim leadership, but rather aims to benefit from the accumulated experiences of different movements and provide a platform for cooperation on joint democratic and human rights projects. The organizers described this gathering as a first step in a long process, noting that many political actors and activists they seek broader cooperation with are not yet present, and expressing hope that they will join in future stages.
The two-day program includes eight specialized panels addressing topics such as pluralism, political parties, civil society, gender equality, citizen agency, international engagement, and economic reconstruction—reflecting an effort to move discussions about Iran’s future beyond general slogans toward concrete and decisive areas in any political transition.
Within this framework, the Ahwazi Democratic Solidarity Party participated actively in the first day of the congress. The party was represented by Secretary-General Ms. Mona Silawi and Jalil Aziz Sharahani on behalf of the political bureau, both of whom delivered speeches addressing the political and cultural rights of the Ahwazi people and the necessity of adopting a fair distribution of power within Iran’s future system.
A large number of party members were also present, as the party is among the coordinating entities of this broad conference.
The congress also witnessed the participation of other Ahwazi parties, including the National Democratic Current in Ahwaz and the Ahwaz Democratic Front, as well as independent Ahwazi figures and political activists, among them media activist Nouri Hamza.
At the level of other non-Persian forces, Kurdish parties, the Azerbaijani Democratic Party, the Baloch People’s Party, and the Balochistan People’s Front participated, in addition to a wide range of political groups representing non-Persian peoples.
Speeches and interventions during the first day varied, but most emphasized the importance of redistributing power within Iran’s political system and guaranteeing the rights of all peoples and components. Participants also stressed that stability cannot be achieved without recognizing the rights of non-Persian peoples.
According to participants, the first day of the congress was highly successful in terms of both attendance and the quality of discussions, with expectations that the second day will continue the dialogue and present further practical visions for Iran’s future.
