Iranian monarchists attack freedom protest

Worker-communist Party of Kurdistan
Workers' Liberty

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Reza Pahlavi’s thugs attack protest in London against Islamic regime of Iran

On 11 July 2026, following a call by the British organisation Workers’ Liberty, a protest was held in front of the Iranian Embassy in London. The demonstration demanded the release of Yasser Ahmadi-Nezhad, a labour activist from the Iranian Oil Company who has been sentenced to 33 months in prison on charges of "propaganda against the state." A number of activists from the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) and several of our comrades from the UK organisation of the Worker-communist Party of Kurdistan (WPK) participated in the event.

As protesters chanted slogans such as "Freedom for Yasser Ahmadi-Nezhad," "Freedom for all political prisoners," and "Down with the Islamic Regime of Iran," a group of lumpen thugs and "Baltajis" (hired goons) loyal to Reza Pahlavi - who had displayed posters of Pahlavi alongside Israeli, American, and monarchist flags - began a counter-confrontation. Some of them had set up tents in Hyde Park, opposite the embassy. Upon our arrival and the shouting of our slogans, they began heckling and shouting against us to disrupt the protest. When these pathetic efforts failed, they began filming and photographing our comrades for the purpose of provocation and espionage. Furthermore, one of Reza Pahlavi’s "thugs" attempted to take a close-up photo of one of our comrades; when confronted, he suddenly attacked our comrade and cowardly fled the scene.

This is not the first time that Reza Pahlavi’s thugs - who act as mercenaries for the US and Israel and advocate for the destruction of Iran and the slaughter of its people through foreign bombardment in hopes of being rewarded by the US - have attacked the Iranian political opposition, specifically the leftist opposition. They seek to destabilize the political environment for activists abroad. This reactionary group, whose fathers' "deposed Shah" regime killed and imprisoned tens of thousands of political opponents, communists, and leftists, is now playing the same role against freedom-seekers and labour activists, even in places where they hold no power. It is this same reactionary, anti-freedom, and anti-communist nature that aligns them with the most racist, anti-refugee, and fascist political currents in Europe, particularly in Britain.

Following the attack and the ensuing tension, the police stationed at the embassy were notified, and a patrol arrived at the scene. After explaining the incident, we filed a formal complaint against the attacker. In addition to taking a statement from our comrade, the police decided to collect and review all CCTV footage and the body-cam footage of the officer who witnessed the event. We will be informed of the next legal steps.

The Worker-communist Party of Kurdistan – Abroad Organisation, while standing alongside the freedom-seeking people, the working class, and the communist activists of Iran in their struggle to overthrow the brutal Islamic Regime, will not remain silent regarding the mercenaries of Reza Pahlavi. We will not allow them to pollute or destabilize the political space of the opposition abroad. We will not overlook these thuggish actions and will take all legal measures to bring them to justice.

We call upon all labour, communist, socialist, and freedom-seeking parties and organisations in Iran and Britain to stand against this unleashed fascist trend. These reactionary and anti-labour elements must not be allowed to endanger activists or disrupt the political activities of the opposition. Through these foul actions, they are providing a great service to the Islamic Regime of Iran. Alongside British communists and the radical Iranian opposition, we will endeavour to put an end to their presence in these areas where they create unrest for radical and leftist movements.

Shame and disgrace to Reza Pahlavi’s thugs!
Down with the reactionary and brutal Islamic Regime of Iran!

Worker-communist Party of Kurdistan - Abroad Organisation
July 12, 2026

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Oppose Iranian monarchist violence!

On Saturday 11 July Workers’ Liberty participated in a protest outside the Iranian Embassy in London to demand the release of a jailed militant oil worker, Yaser Ahmadinejad.

We were joined by Iranian and Kurdish comrades including members of the Shahrokh Zamani Action Campaign and Worker-communist Party of Kurdistan.

Towards the end of the protest, following speeches in solidarity with Yaser Ahmadinejad and the Iranian working class, we were heckled and filmed by a gang of Iranian monarchists. These reactionaries appear to have a camp in Hyde Park, bordering Kensington Road which faces the Embassy building.

One of the monarchist thugs physically attacked a comrade at the picket. The attack was witnessed by the police and filmed by a number of witnesses. We expect the police to find and prosecute the man responsible for the violent assault.

We demand the camp in Hyde Park is closed down, as it being used as a base to intimidate leftists.

This is not the first instance of monarchist violence outside Iran’s London Embassy. The monarchists aim to monopolise the space outside the Embassy and are willing to fight to maintain that monopoly.

We will not be intimidated. As Marxists, internationalists and activists who believe in international workers’ solidarity we have a responsibility to protest for the release of jailed Iranian worker activists.

The main victims of the Iranian clerical dictatorship are the poor, the national and religious minorities in Iran and the working class.

By contrast, Reza Pahlavi who aims to reinstall the Iranian monarchy, is a mega-rich playboy and a clown. Reza Pahvali is the former Crown Prince of Iran whose father’s disgusting, brutal, police-state was responsible for vast repression. He has no policy which will benefit the poor and oppressed.

It is risible that Reza Pahlavi is attempting to present himself as speaking for the people in Iran, as a man promoting free speech and democracy. Look at what his supporters are doing.

We fight for freedom, democracy and women’s liberation.

We fight for a secular republic and workers’ power in Iran.

Alliance for Workers’ Liberty

13 July 2026