Five Anti-CCP Activists Join Amsterdam Solidarity March for Iran's Freedom
Voices of Anti-CCP Platform Reports on Historic International Protest Against Totalitarianism
Overview
On January 14, 2026, in Amsterdam, the Dutch capital, hundreds of protesters gathered for the "United for Freedom" solidarity march supporting the Iranian people's resistance against the Islamic Republic's authoritarian regime. Among the participants were five Chinese dissidents whose participation underscored a critical international alignment: the struggle against totalitarianism transcends national borders, religious divides, and geographic boundaries.
The five Chinese dissidents—Du Binghui from Henan, Wei Zhijian fromKwangsi, Yu Yang from Anhui, Jiang Peikun from Cantonia , and Liu Feilong from Cantonia—marched alongside Jewish supporters and Iranian expatriates, holding signs in multiple languages and ultimately burning images of Khamenei at the U.S. Consulate in Amsterdam. Their participation represents a powerful statement: those who have suffered under totalitarian rule stand in solidarity with those still suffering today.
The March: Dissidents on the Streets
The procession began at Dam Square in Amsterdam at 4:00 PM, with participants carrying pre-1979 Iranian flags (featuring the Lion and Sun symbol), Israeli flags, and banners for freedom. The atmosphere was solemn yet defiant as hundreds moved toward the U.S. Consulate on Museumplein.
The five Chinese dissidents displayed bilingual signs in English and Persian:
- Yu Yang (Anhui): "I Support a Free Iran"
- Wei Zhijian (Kwangsi): "Woman, Life, Freedom"
- Jiang Peikun (Cantonia): "I Stand with the People of Iran"
- Liu Feilong (Cantonia): "I Support a Free Iran"
- Du Binghui (Henan): "I Stand with the People of Iran"
They also held a trilingual sign in Chinese, English, and Persian reading: "Death to Khamenei! Death to Xi Jinping, the Backer of Tyrants' Thugs!"
When the march reached the U.S. Consulate, these five Chinese dissidents joined Iranian protesters in burning images of Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, while shouting "Free Iran." As the crowd observed a moment of silence for victims of the Iranian crackdown, hundreds of phone flashlights illuminated the night sky—a symbolic gesture of resistance in a nation where the internet has been cut off.
Why They Marched: Testimonies from Chinese Dissidents
Wei Zhijian from the Kwangsi independence movement articulated his motivation with particular eloquence. Speaking after the march, he said: "As an independence activist from Kwangsi, I have very clear and strong reasons for supporting the Iranian people. I understand deeply what it means to be oppressed by totalitarian religious regimes and brutal authoritarian dictatorships."
Wei drew explicit parallels between the two systems of oppression: "The CCP locks 1.4 billion Chinese people in a massive prison of lies and surveillance in the name of 'Chinese socialism.' Iran's Islamic regime locks generations of Iranians in another theological prison in the name of 'theocracy.' The common point is: they don't allow you to be human—they demand you be a tool, a believer, a slave."
He expressed admiration mixed with sorrow for the Iranian people's courage: "The Iranian people are doing what we most wanted to do but couldn't accomplish, despite paying an enormous price. They dare to take to the streets, they dare to shout 'death to dictators,' they dare to burn headscarves and publicly tear down images of the Supreme Leader. Many of us shouted similar things in 1989, and we were met with bullets, imprisonment, exile, and persecution of our families."
Du Binghui from Henan emphasized his deep emotional connection to the Iranian struggle. He stated: "As Chinese who have suffered under CCP oppression, we share the same fate as the Iranian people. I participate in this march to express empathy, solidarity, and support for the people of Iran."
Du pointed out the similarities in oppressive tactics: "Both regimes conduct brutal internal crackdowns, censor information, export terrorism abroad, and distort truth. The only difference is the name of their ideology."
Notably, Du acknowledged the potential consequences of his public protest. He knows that his family members still in China may face retaliation—a characteristic tactic of the CCP regime. Yet he declared firmly: "I am Du Binghui from Henan. I stand with the Iranian people. I oppose all evil authoritarian regimes' assault on freedom and the world."
Yu Yang from Anhui emphasized the principle of universal human rights. When asked why he chose to participate fully rather than symbolically, he responded: "Iran and China are both dictatorships. As a Chinese dissident, I believe the fight against authoritarianism has no national borders. Full participation is my clear statement: I oppose dictatorship and stand with the oppressed."
Acknowledging the risk his actions posed to family members in China, Yu Yang said: "Of course I worry about my relatives still in China, because that concern is genuine. However, I refuse to let fear and worry silence my normal expression of freedom, even in a free and safe country like the Netherlands."
The Iranian Crisis
Iran has experienced massive anti-government demonstrations since 2022, with protesters demanding the fall of the Islamic Republic. Official casualty figures exceed 2,500 deaths, though actual numbers are likely far higher. The Iranian government has responded with brutal force, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and forced disappearances. Most recently, authorities have cut off internet access nationwide, effectively blinding the world to ongoing atrocities while making coordination of protests nearly impossible.
According to reports from participants and media coverage, the Iranian regime's tactics have grown increasingly extreme. Arash Aria, an Iranian musician present at the Amsterdam march, recounted horrifying stories: "Authorities herded demonstrators into buildings, set one end on fire, and waited with weapons at other exits. Hundreds have died this way."
An elderly Iranian woman named Helen, who wore sunglasses to the protest fearing Iranian Embassy surveillance, spoke with a trembling voice: "I shake all day. I live in a nightmare. I've heard that 12,000 Iranians have been murdered. I have family still in Iran. Have they been killed too?"
A Common Enemy: Authoritarianism Without Borders
What made this Amsterdam march historically significant was not merely the size of the crowd, but the composition: Jewish Israelis standing alongside Iranian Muslims, Dutch citizens beside Chinese dissidents, all united against a common enemy—totalitarian oppression.
The presence of Israeli flags and Jewish protesters alongside Iranian demonstrators challenged the narrative that has long been pushed by the Iranian regime: that Israelis are the enemy of Iranian people. Instead, participants made clear that the true adversary is not any nation or religion, but the system of tyranny itself.
According to Dutch media reports, an Iranian woman named Amy told a Jewish participant: "The Iranian government told us for 47 years that Israel is our enemy. But we say: No. Israelis are our brothers and sisters."
International Solidarity Expanding
The Amsterdam march is part of a broader global movement. From Washington D.C. to European capitals, Iranian expatriates and international democracy advocates are organizing similar protests, demanding international pressure on the Iranian regime.
Yasmin Katibai, organizer of the Amsterdam march and a teacher from Hoofddorp who fled Iran with her parents, emphasized: "The Iranian people cannot do this alone. We need help from the international community."
Many Iranian protesters expressed hope that international intervention, particularly from the United States and Israel, would help bring about regime change in Tehran.
Why This Matters
The participation of Chinese dissidents in supporting Iran's anti-regime movement illustrates a critical truth: the struggle for human freedom and dignity is not confined by borders. Those who have experienced totalitarian oppression understand intimately what others under similar regimes face.
For Chinese dissidents, Iran's uprising offers both inspiration and warning. If the Iranian people can successfully overthrow their authoritarian regime and establish a democratic system, it would demonstrate that even the strongest dictatorships can be defeated. Conversely, if the Iranian regime successfully crushes the uprising through terror, it sends a dark message about the power of modern authoritarian states.
The simple yet profound signs held by these five Chinese dissidents—"Woman, Life, Freedom" and "I Stand with the People of Iran"—represent a universal language that transcends all divides. In the face of totalitarianism, whether in China, Iran, or anywhere else in the world, free people choose solidarity over silence.
About the Participants
The five activists who participated in the Amsterdam march represent different regions and independence movements, as well as anti-authoritarian struggles, but they share a common commitment: opposition to tyranny and advocacy for universal human rights. Their presence in Amsterdam sends a clear message to the international community: the fight against authoritarianism is a global struggle, and those who have fled oppression refuse to forget those still suffering under it.
Editor: Jiang Peikun
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