Paris police ban Iranian opposition rally, citing 'bogus reasons'

A planned rally by the Iranian opposition group the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in Paris has been abruptly banned by city police, sparking an appeal from the group who called the decision "bogus." The NCRI stated that organizers had followed all legal procedures and coordinated with authorities for two months prior to the ban, which was issued late Thursday for a Saturday demonstration.

France's Foreign Ministry has refuted claims by the NCRI that the ban was connected to a recent phone call between French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi. The ministry issued a statement asserting that the Iranian minister did not mention the protest or request its cancellation during their discussion about developments in the Iran war.

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This allegation is false. The (Iranian) minister did not mention this protest or request its cancellation.

The Paris police have not yet provided an immediate comment on the NCRI's statement. The group, the political arm of the People's Mujahideen Organisation of Iran, has held numerous rallies in the French capital over the years, often drawing thousands of attendees, including former international officials critical of the Iranian government. The NCRI has faced bans in the past, with a previous ban in 2023 being overturned by a court.

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After business hours on the evening of Thursday, June 18, the Paris Police Prefecture banned the planned demonstration of 100,000 people against the wave of political executions in Iran, scheduled for Saturday, June 20, citing bogus reasons.