Volunteer Activists and CIVICUS call for an immediate end to violence in Iran, Israel, and the Middle East. Just, lasting, and inclusive peace is critical for our survival and a sustainable future.
We call out the unlawful and brutal violence unleashed upon civilians by the government of Israel and increasing inhumane repression of civic freedoms by Iranian authorities. They are symptoms of both national and global crises where violence and oppression triumph over justice, peace, and human rights.
We ask global citizens, civil society, and the international community to hold governments to account, advocate publicly for security and peace, and to stand in solidarity with Iranian civil society.
Violence and Repression
In the early hours of June 13, 2025, the State of Israel launched a surprise military attack on Iran. It was just two days ahead of scheduled United States of America (USA) - Iran negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program. This unprovoked offensive marked the beginning of a 12-day war that caused immense human suffering and widespread destruction.
Israeli airstrikes targeted key military infrastructure and resulted in the deaths of senior Iranian military officials. However, the attacks went far beyond military targets, severely affecting civilian life and infrastructure across Iran. Civilian buildings, roads, communications facilities, and healthcare systems were struck.
One of the most egregious attacks occurred on June 23, when Israel bombed Evin Prison, killing 79 civilians, including prison staff, visitors, and detainees, and injuring dozens more. It occurred just one day before the ceasefire. The attack constitutes a potential war crime under international law, including the Geneva Conventions. The convention prohibits attacks on civilian objects unless being used for military purposes, an exception not applicable in this case.
In total, the war resulted in the deaths of 1,062 Iranians, including 126 women, 41 children, and 9 medical personnel. Over 5,800 were injured. Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes killed 29 Israeli civilians and injured 3,238. The war also saw the unprecedented infiltration of Iran by armed groups deploying drones and explosives across multiple regions, adding further layers of insecurity and fear.
In response, the Iranian government passed emergency legislation on June 23 titled the Plan to Intensify the Punishment for Espionage and Collaborators with the Zionist Regime and Hostile Countries Against National Security and Interests. While framed as a national security measure, this law includes vaguely defined provisions criminalising communication services such as Starlink. It also targets unauthorised gatherings and protests, especially during wartime. It permits sentences ranging from long-term imprisonment to the death penalty. These sweeping measures represent a grave escalation in the securitization of civil life in Iran and pose an existential threat to civic freedoms.
A Global Crisis: Faltering International Cooperation and Civic Freedoms
These events are unfolding against a backdrop of deepening crises across the Middle East. Violence is expanding across the region, and each escalation threatens to ignite new cycles of destruction, displacement, and division. We, the undersigned, raise our voices to call for an immediate end to violence and for a just and lasting peace across the region.
Peace cannot be built on impunity, silence, or selective outrage. A sustainable future for the region requires full accountability for all violations of international law, whether committed by states or non-state actors. The unlawful targeting of civilians by Israel, and the increasing repression of civil society and civic freedoms by Iranian authorities, are not isolated incidents, they are symptoms of a broader global crisis: the erosion of international norms, the normalisation of state violence, and the shrinking of civic space.
These threats are not confined to the Middle East. When international law is violated with impunity, when war crimes are met with silence, and when civil society is criminalised, the entire international system of human rights, justice, and accountability is put at risk. If we allow these patterns to take hold, they will define the future of international relations and civic life globally.
Our Call to Action
In this critical moment, global civil society must respond, united, principled, and unwavering.
We, the undersigned, therefore call on civil society actors, human rights defenders, media, and concerned communities around the world to:
- Hold governments accountable – Demand that your governments take a clear stance on violations of international humanitarian law and human rights. Silence or inaction in the face of war crimes, collective punishment, and indiscriminate violence erodes the very foundation of international justice.
- Raise public awareness – Advocate for transparency and accountability in foreign policy decisions. Educate the public about the importance of upholding international law and the consequences of its erosion on global peace and human security.
- Stand in solidarity with Iranian civil society – Support the campaign Life Against War, amplify the voices of those resisting both external aggression and internal repression, and demand an immediate end to laws and practices that criminalise civic expression, dissent, and peaceful protest.
International solidarity must rise to meet this moment. A just global order depends on our collective courage to speak truth to power, resist militarism in all forms, and defend the rights and dignity of all people, without exception.
