Protests Against Iranian Government in Munich

Approximately 200,000 individuals participated in a demonstration in Munich on Saturday, coinciding with a security conference attended by world leaders, according to police reports.

Pro-monarchist activists gathered at Theresienwiese, a trade fair site in the city, to voice their condemnation of Iran’s leadership following a severe crackdown on protests earlier this year.

Human rights organizations have indicated that many protesters have lost their lives in Iran amid ongoing unrest.

Demonstrators expressed support for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last king, brandishing flags featuring a lion and sun on horizontal stripes of green, white, and red—symbols of the monarchy that was overthrown in 1979.

“We gathered here today to stand with the Iranian people who have been killed by the mullah regime,” stated Ali Farzad, a 40-year-old participant. “We also see Pahlavi as a leader during this transitional phase.”

A 62-year-old protester, who only provided his first name, shared his sentiments, saying, “The Iranian regime is a dead regime. I guess it’s game over now.”

The crowd chanted phrases like “Javid Shah” (Long live the Shah), “Pahlavi bal Migalde” (Pahlavi will return), and “Reza II,” urging Pahlavi to take over from his grandfather, Reza Shah, the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty.

Similar rallies advocating for international action against Iran are set to take place in Toronto and Los Angeles on the same day.

Pahlavi addressed attendees at the Munich Security Conference earlier, urging U.S. President Donald Trump to “support” the Iranian people.

Having lived in exile since his father’s overthrow during the 1979 revolution, Pahlavi called for humanitarian intervention to avert further loss of innocent lives in Iran.

Razieh Shaberdi, 34, an Iranian marketing professional residing in Paris, expressed her motivation for being in Munich. She emphasized her support for protesters in Iran, saying, “We are here to amplify their voices.” She also urged the world to establish an interim government followed by a referendum, insisting that foreign powers need to intervene.

Many who spoke with AFP shared a common belief that Iran’s current leaders lack legitimacy and criticized ongoing U.S.-led negotiations. Liana, a 40-year-old doctor from Germany, commented, “We shouldn’t be negotiating with them; they’re not the rightful government.” She added that the international community needs to be aware of the violence being inflicted on the Iranian people.

“The people you are negotiating with do not represent the Iranian people,” Farzad added, echoing the sentiments of many in the crowd.

Theresienwiese, the venue for the protest, is situated less than 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from where the Security Council meeting is being held.

Just last week, around 10,000 individuals protested in Berlin at the behest of the MEK, an exiled Iranian opposition group that the Iranian government labels as “terrorists.”