Thousands of people rallied in France at the weekend in a show of support for demonstrators in Iran risking their lives to demand an end to theocratic rule.
The protests in Iran over past weeks are the largest since the “Woman, Life, Freedom” street movement in 2022-2023, sparked by the death in custody of an Iranian Kurdish woman arrested for allegedly not following a required dress code.
“Woman, Life, Freedom,” chanted marchers in the French capital, some holding portraits of deceased Iranian protesters.
“Death to Khamenei,” cried some, in reference to 86-year-old supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Galia, a 36-year-old woman who did not give her surname to protect her family, said she felt hopeful – despite “the repression, the torture, the fear, the upcoming executions” in Iran.
“Each time,…