Thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of London this Sunday, voicing fierce solidarity with protesters in Iran and calling for decisive action from the British government. The rally followed grim reports that the death toll from the Iranian regime's crackdown on nationwide unrest has surged to at least 538 people, with more than 10,600 individuals detained.
From Kensington to Whitehall: A March for Change
The day of action commenced outside the Iranian embassy in South Kensington, before the large crowd moved to Whitehall, the central seat of British political power. Protesters carried a clear and forceful message, demanding the Labour government close the Iranian embassy, which they branded a 'terrorist factory'.
Vivid footage from the march showed participants burning effigies of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, outside Downing Street. Many waved the historic pre-Islamic Iranian flag, featuring the Lion and Sun emblem, while others held placards bearing the image of exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi.
The Central Demand: Proscribing the Revolutionary Guards
The protest's core demand was a direct appeal to Prime Minister Keir Starmer: to formally proscribe Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation. The IRGC, a powerful military branch created to protect the 1979 revolution, wields immense political influence and controls the Quds Force, which manages regional proxies.
Laila Jazayeri, director of the Association of Anglo-Iranian Women in the UK, addressed the crowd, stating the IRGC had 'already gone too far'. She urged the UK government to act, emphasising that the Iranian people themselves are capable of bringing down the regime without foreign military intervention. 'The regime has shut down the internet to kill in silence,' she said, calling for UK help to restore online access for Iranians using tools like Starlink transmitters.
Voices from the Protest and Government Response
Among the protesters was Afsi, a 38-year-old Iranian who has lived in London for seven years. She expressed the frustration of being cut off from family in Iran due to an internet blackout but also a resilient hope. 'This time, we have hope ... we feel like we can do it this time,' she told press.
When questioned about proscribing the IRGC, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told Sky News that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood would follow a 'very thorough process'. She stated the government keeps such decisions 'under constant review', but did not pre-empt any outcome.
The London demonstration is part of a global wave of dissent. In a bold act the previous day, a protester in London tore down the Iranian flag from its embassy, symbolising the deepening anger and call for change echoing from Iran's streets to the heart of the UK capital.
