The afternoon light over Berlin moved slowly, pale and restrained, settling across the broad stones near the Brandenburg Gate. February carries a particular stillness in the city, one shaped by cold air and shortened days, by history layered thick beneath each step. On this day, that stillness was interrupted not by urgency, but by presence — a steady accumulation of people arriving with flags folded under arms, signs held close against the wind, and thoughts fixed far beyond Germany’s borders.
They gathered in the thousands, filling the space with measured motion and muted resolve. Many were members of Iran’s diaspora, others longtime residents of Berlin, still others visitors drawn by a shared sense that distance does not erase responsibility. The timing was deliberate. The demonstration coincided with the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 revolution, a date that carries different meanings depending on where one stands, and which for many here has become a moment of reflection rather than celebration.
As the crowd settled, chants rose and fell, not sharp but sustained, echoing softly against the Gate’s columns. Banners called for freedom, justice, and change in Iran, where months of unrest have followed the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody and the subsequent nationwide protests. Speakers addressed the gathering in Persian, German, and English, weaving together personal stories, political memory, and appeals for international attention. Some participants held photographs of relatives lost or imprisoned, the images steady in gloved hands.
Berlin police estimated the crowd at around 10,000 people, while organizers suggested a higher figure. The demonstration remained peaceful, unfolding more as a vigil than a confrontation. Streets nearby were closed, traffic diverted, and the city adjusted briefly to the presence of a cause that did not originate within its own borders but found space here all the same. For a few hours, Berlin’s familiar role as a crossroads of history expanded once more.
The mood was not one of spectacle. Instead, it carried the quiet weight of continuity — a recognition that protests inside Iran have persisted despite arrests, executions, and restrictions on communication. From afar, participants sought to mirror that persistence through visibility rather than volume, through gathering rather than disruption.
In straightforward terms, around 10,000 people gathered in Berlin to demand greater freedoms in Iran and to express solidarity with ongoing protests there. The demonstration, held near the Brandenburg Gate, marked the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 revolution and called for an end to repression and violence against protesters. Authorities reported no major incidents, and the event concluded peacefully.
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