Local Leaders Voice Support for Iranian People

Chiswick's diaspora watching events with anxiety

Iranian Christian Fellowship Church on Sutton Court Road

January 16, 2026

Political and community leaders across the local have issued strong messages of solidarity with the people of Iran, as reports of violence, mass arrests and repression continue to emerge from the country. With long-established Iranian communities in Chiswick and surrounding areas the crisis is being felt acutely by many local families.

The Hounslow Conservative Group said it “stands in solidarity with the people of Iran who are courageously standing up to repression and demanding basic freedoms in the face of extreme personal risk.” The group expressed deep concern over “violence, deaths and mass arrests” targeting peaceful protesters, many of whom are women and young people calling for dignity, free expression and equal rights.

The west of London is home to one of the UK’s most established Iranian communities. The Iranian Association, founded in 1985 as the West London Iranian Association, has long supported residents with integration, education, health and wellbeing. Based in Hammersmith, it continues to run events in Chiswick Town Hall and remains a vital link for families with loved ones in Iran.

Chiswick is also home to a significant number of Iranian-owned businesses, particularly at the western end of Chiswick High Road — an area sometimes referred to locally as “Little Persia.” Many residents say the current situation in Iran is deeply personal, with fear and anxiety heightened by the difficulty of contacting relatives back home.

Local faith groups also play a central role. The Iranian Christian Fellowship Church on Sutton Court Road provides worship and support for Farsi-speaking Christians, while the Armenian Christian Fellowship in West London includes many Iranian members and serves congregants in Armenian, Farsi and English.

The Hounslow Conservative Group paid particular tribute to Iranian women, who have been at the forefront of protests. “Their courage has inspired people around the world and deserves clear and unambiguous support,” the group said, adding that those risking their lives for freedom “should know they are not alone.”

Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council, also issued a statement condemning the actions of the Iranian regime.

“With so many residents of Hammersmith & Fulham being of Iranian heritage, and as the brutal Iranian regime carries out large-scale killings of its own citizens, it is time to reaffirm that the call for freedom, the rule of law, free and fair elections, and equal human rights is timeless,” he said.

He described executions for peaceful protest as “abhorrent” and warned that “justice will inevitably catch up with those who fail in this duty.”

“I know I speak for all in Hammersmith & Fulham in forcefully condemning the massacre of civilians and standing with the Iranian people at this critical moment in history,” he added.

The Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA), a refugee charity based in London and the largest charity supporting Iranian and Afghan refugees in the UK, expresseds deep concern at the rapidly deteriorating situation in Iran.

Commenting on the situation, Darius Nasimi, Head of Funding & Partnerships at the ACAA, said, “The internet shutdown in Iran is causing deep fear and distress among British Iranians and Afghans, many of whom are desperately trying and failing to contact relatives back home. The UK is home to more than 120,000 Iranians, a figure that has risen rapidly in recent years as Iranians have become the third most common nationality seeking asylum in the UK, reflecting worsening conditions in Iran.

"At the same time, we are deeply concerned about the situation of Afghan migrants in Iran, which hosts the world’s largest Afghan refugee population. Many are facing mass deportations, forced returns to Taliban rule, and deadly conditions at the border. The Iranian authorities must stop killing their own people, restore internet access immediately, and respect the right to peaceful protest. We urge the UK Government to take a clear and leading role in pursuing a diplomatic solution that prioritises human rights and the protection of civilians.”