Criticism, Controversy, and Questions About Maryam Rajavi’s Popularity Among Iranians in France

Divisions Within the Iranian Opposition

The Iranian opposition is highly diverse and includes many different groups with competing ideas. Some groups support a secular republic, some support a return to constitutional monarchy, while others focus primarily on human rights and civil freedoms rather than a specific political structure.

Because of these divisions, there is no single opposition leader or organization that represents all critics of the Islamic Republic.

Maryam Rajavi has presented the NCRI as a democratic alternative and promoted the Ten-Point Plan as a framework for a future Iran. The plan includes ideas such as free elections, gender equality, freedom of religion, and separation of religion and state.

However, some opposition activists argue that a future political system should be decided through a broad national process rather than through the leadership of any existing opposition group.

This disagreement has contributed to debates about whether the NCRI can unite different opposition movements or whether it represents only one part of a much larger political landscape.

June 23, 2026 | 9:06 pm