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UN Watch recently held its 18th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, backed by an international coalition of 30 human rights groups.

The Courage Award went to the Heroes of Iran, and was accepted by Masih Alinejad, the leading Iranian women's rights activist, and repeated target of assassination plots by the regime. I encourage you to watch her powerful acceptance speech, featured below.

We at UN Watch will continue fighting every day for the people of Iran, confronting the murderous regime and its apologists.

Excerpt of Masih Alinejad's Acceptance Speech at the 18th Annual Geneva Summit

For 47 years, the regime has ruined the environment, our culture, our nation — everything. But in the West, democratic countries are still waiting to reform this regime.

So my question is very simple: how long do you want to wait to see that under a so-called reformist regime — people still get slaughtered?

Recently, you have seen that finally, in Europe, the language of politicians has changed. I am so happy to see this moment — when European leaders understand Ali Khamenei is not just the Supreme Leader, but he is the godfather of ISIS.

But we should not stop there.

For years, when I challenged Europeans and asked why they negotiated with the Islamic Republic, they said, “Now is the time of the moderate president. We need to open the door of diplomacy toward the moderate President Hassan Rouhani.”

Under Hassan Rouhani, 1,500 people were killed. They called him moderate. We call him a terrorist.

International media calls Masoud Pezeshkian a reformist. That’s why they said we need to negotiate with him — to stop Ali Khamenei. He is the puppet of Ali Khamenei.

Under Masoud Pezeshkian, 40,000 people have been massacred. More than 300 people have been injured. And 10,000 innocent protesters have been blinded.

You call him reformist? We call them killers.

And now I want to ask Europeans to listen to just some of the names — only some of the names — of the victims killed in this uprising.

Mohammad Jabbari stood at a door with his bare hands, holding it closed while security forces stormed into a building, planning to arrest unarmed protesters. He saved others’ lives. In the end, the security forces managed to push the door, they knocked him to the ground and they killed him.

A firefighter. A man trying to save lives. While others ran from bullets, he ran toward unarmed people. His image went viral when he carried a wounded person on his shoulder. Security forces shot and killed him.

Faezeh Mostafan. Only 20 years old. After security forces killed her, her mother was afraid they would steal her body. She hugged her until morning so she could bury her.

The names go on and on and on.

And that’s why I want to ask you, ladies and gentlemen — it’s very simple: say their names and stand with those who sacrificed their lives — not only to free Iran, but to free Europe from Islamism, to protect global security, to protect you from one of the most dangerous regimes: the Islamic Republic.

Stand with the people of Iran.

Stand for Raha. For Majid. For Mohammad. For Mehdi. For Pouya. For Pejman. For Iman. For Abolfazl. For Aida. For a doctor. For children.

The names — the names give me hope. Otherwise, we are all traumatized.

They took everything from us. Our homeland. Our family members. Our freedom. Our dignity. But not our hope.

Our hope and our anger are bigger than our fear. And we will end this regime.

Stand with us.

This is the Berlin Wall moment for Iranians. Help us bring down the wall of dictatorship — right now.

History is watching you.

Thank you so much.

UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer with Masih Alinejad and Swedish MEP Alice Teodorescu Måwe, 18th Geneva Summit, February 18, 2026

On accepting the 2026 Courage Award on behalf of the “Heroes of Iran,” Alinejad reflected on her strong relationship with UN Watch:

I want to be honest — with myself, and with every single one of you here: I did not want to come here and receive this award. Because the entire nation is being traumatized. Because Iranians have faced massacre — more than 40,000 people killed in just 24 hours. And I am, like millions of Iranians, traumatized. I thought, “I don’t deserve to receive an award. I feel the guilt on my shoulders.”

I said: “We need action, not an award. We need to see the rest of the world bring shame to the government and stop legitimizing them — not a ceremony.”

But then I told myself: “This award comes from UN Watch, from the Geneva Summit.” For years and years, we have been alone in our fight because Western leaders abandoned the Iranian people. But UN Watch was there — inviting dissidents, activists, leaders, the true representatives of Iranians — onto this stage.

And I said to myself: “If this award means that we are together, and that we are going to stay united to expel the officials of the Islamic Republic from this country, I accept this award.” Because I believe that what Hillel Neuer did changed the narrative of the West. That’s why many Iranians call him “Uncle Hillel.”

Background

UN Watch has been a long-time ally and supporter of Masih Alinejad, who famously launched a mass movement inspiring women in Iran to defy the compulsory hijab law. In 2015, she was honored with the International Women's Rights Award at UN Watch's 7th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights.

In 2023, after UN Watch led the successful campaign to expel Iran from the UN Women's Rights Commission, Alinejad addressed UN Watch's event to mark the occasion, held next to UN headquarters in New York.

In 2026, UN Watch brought Masih Alinejad to the European headquarters of the United Nations to share her story with diplomats at the opening of the 2026 Geneva Summit. Click for video