According to António Guterres, all Iranians must be able to express their dissatisfaction without fear. The President of the European Parliament expressed support for the protesters. Hundreds of people have died during the protests.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres is shocked by reports of excessive use of force by Iranian authorities against protesters, which has led to hundreds of deaths and an even greater number of injuries. The statement from the head of the global organization was made public on Sunday, January 11.
"All Iranians must be able to express their dissatisfaction peacefully and without fear. The rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, enshrined in international law, must be fully respected and protected," Guterres emphasized.
He urged Iranian authorities to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from "unnecessary or disproportionate" use of force.
The UN chief is also convinced that Tehran must take measures to ensure access to information, including restoring communication.
President of the European Parliament to Protesters: Your Time Has Come
In support of the demonstrators, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, also spoke out. She addressed the "brave girls, students, men, and women on the streets" on social media platform X, stating: "Your time has come." "Know that any regime that blocks communication is a regime that fears its own people," Metsola pointed out.
According to her, Europe must also recognize its duty in the current situation and begin to act. "Iran will be free," she emphasized.
According to the Norway-based human rights organization Iran Human Rights, at least 192 people had been killed during the protests by January 11. Activists fear that the actual number of deaths may be much higher. Meanwhile, the US-based human rights network HRANA estimated the death toll at 538.
Mass protests in Iran have continued for the 16th day
Daily mass protests against the Iranian leadership have not ceased since December 28, 2025. Despite the harsh actions of Iranian security forces against demonstrators and internet blockages, crowds of protesters have taken to the streets of Tehran and other major cities in the country. Demonstrators bang on pots and chant slogans like "Death to Khamenei," directing their message to the Supreme Leader of Iran, while drivers honk their horns in support.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened on January 10 to suppress the protests. Ensuring state security is a "red line" for the Iranian military, so the "army will protect national interests, strategic infrastructure, and public property using force," stated the head of the IRGC on state television.
