Iranian Diaspora in Cyprus Presses Parliament to Act as Protests Intensify

Members of the Iranian community in Cyprus have renewed calls for political action, urging the country’s parliament to publicly support protesters in Iran amid reports of escalating violence and human rights abuses.

On Thursday, Iranian residents assembled outside the House of Representatives in Nicosia, where they submitted a formal memorandum to Speaker Annita Demetriou. The document calls on Cyprus to express solidarity with Iranians protesting against the country’s leadership and to take concrete steps at both national and European levels.

The memorandum urges Cypriot lawmakers to advocate within the European Union for the designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation. It also calls for targeted sanctions against senior Iranian officials and demands an independent international investigation into alleged abuses committed during the crackdown on demonstrations.

In addition, the community appealed for increased diplomatic pressure on Tehran, including the suspension of operations at the Iranian embassy in Nicosia and a halt to bilateral cooperation until violence against civilians ends.

Speaking at the gathering, Alexis Mahtabi, president of the Iranian community in Cyprus, said demonstrators in Iran were facing lethal force and widespread communication blackouts, leaving families cut off from loved ones. He described the situation as intolerable and said the international community could no longer afford silence.

Responding to the appeal, Demetriou said the Cypriot parliament stood with those seeking democracy and freedom. She announced that a resolution would be tabled to allow Cyprus to formally express its political support through institutional channels, noting the country’s own history of struggle for democratic rights.

The appeal comes amid a series of demonstrations by the Iranian diaspora across Cyprus in recent days, including protests in Nicosia and Limassol. Participants have carried banners condemning Iran’s leadership and voiced fears for relatives still inside the country.

Iranian authorities have dismissed accusations by international rights groups that security forces are using excessive and lethal force against protesters. Despite these denials, members of the diaspora say they will continue to mobilise to keep global attention focused on events unfolding inside Iran.