De Wever shares support for ‘courageous Iranians’ as anti-government protests grow
Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever has expressed his support for the people of Iran as anti-government protests spread across the country. In a post on X, he says that “courageous Iranians are standing up for freedom after years of repression and economic hardship” and that “they deserve our full support”.
Protests arose out of frustration with the country’s economic crisis and hyperinflation but have broadened to include opposition to political oppression more generally. The regime’s security services are responding with lethal force.
"Silencing them through violence is unacceptable," De Wever said in his post, in English and Farsi.
The Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights reports that at least 45 demonstrators have been killed since the protests began. “The repression is spreading and becoming more violent every day,” said director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam. The group says hundreds of people have been injured and more than 2,000 arrested.
"The repression is spreading and becoming more violent every day"
Footage verified by BBC Persian shows several buildings in the capital Tehran on fire, on the 12th consecutive day of protests. According to Netblocks, an organisation that monitors cyber security, Tehran and other regions were hit by an internet blackout on Thursday. Several providers have reported outages.
De Wever’s message echoes that of other world leaders in support of the Iranian people. European Parliament president Roberta Metsola posted a video on X on Thursday saying: “The world is once again witnessing the brave people of Iran stand up. Europe stands by their side.”
There are currently around 250 Belgians in Iran. The ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned them to avoid all types of gatherings and to leave the country immediately. A demonstration was held at the Iranian embassy in Brussels this week, with similar actions in elsewhere in Europe and the US.
Grab from images posted on social media shows Iranian security forces using tear gas to disperse protesters at the Tehran bazaar, 6 January 2026 © PHOTO UGC / AFP
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