Speech of Maryam Rajavi – Oslo – Nobel Peace institute
Mr. President
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great pleasure to be in this building and have the opportunity to talk to you about the situation in my country.
The name Nobel is associated with promotion of peace around the world.
A message which at time seems to have been lost.
Let us hope that hostility and war can be replaced by friendship and peace.
We must be prepared to pay the price for such goal.
Today, I want to talk about my country and the need for peace and freedom for my people.
A country with the ancient civilization which has been destroyed by 35 years rule of a fundamentalist regime.
A country rich in resources and in culture turned into a country with 70% of the population living under poverty line and epicenter of terrorism and fundamentalism.
Today in my country respect for human rights and freedom constitute the most serious crimes, punishable by long imprisonment, torture and execution.
The ruling mullahs setup hangings in public for advocating freedom to intimidate the people.
This is a picture of prisoners who were executed, were hanged about ten days ago
Over the past three decades, 120,000 people have been executed for political reasons.
Hundreds of thousands more have been imprisoned and suffered torture.
Over the past few months there has been much noise about a new trend towards moderation.
This is an illusion created by the mullahs and advocated by their lobbies.
Let us look at Rouhani’s record:
In Iran; almost six hundred executions.
An increase in political executions and pressure on political prisoners including among others denying them of medical treatment, further filtering internet and banning social media, continued suppression of women, and ethnic and religious minorities persists.
In the region the regime’s record includes participation of the Revolutionary Guards in the genocide against the Syrian people, providing arms and all other support for terrorist groups, and more meddling in Iraq and other countries of the region.
It seems in mullahs’ vocabulary and those supporting them, “moderation” has a different meaning.
Rouhnai is neither a moderate nor the current regime in Iran has the capacity for reform.
The core of mullahs constitution is the absolute rule of the supreme leader, which is completely against democratic values.
Therefore, any departure from these suppressive policies would herald the beginning of the end of this regime.
As I have said before, talking about change without realizing the following minimum requirements is a mirage:
• Release of all political prisoners
• Freedom for all political parties and freedom of assembly
• Freedom of expression and press
• Ending the meddling in other countries, especially in Syria and Iraq.
• Ending the nuclear weapons program.
Let me say a few words on nuclear negotiation.
I know there are different views on how to deal with this issue.
But let’s begin with common grounds:
• First, all agree that mullahs’ regime must not obtain nuclear bomb or capability.
• Second, there is a general agreement that all efforts should be made to avoid war.
• Third, it is undisputed that the mullahs’ regime took one step back and agreed to the Geneva accord under pressure and not due to change of heart.
The regime was terrified that rising popular discontent coupled with worsening economic condition and international sanction would trigger nation-wide uprisings against the regime.
• Fourth, it is also generally accepted that the interim accord suffers from serious shortcomings which must be fixed.
Therefore, those who truly want to see an end to the nuclear weapons program of the mullahs’ regime should realize that easing the sanction and making concessions to the mullahs is a recipe for disaster.
It gives them time to advance their nuclear weapons program while containing economic crisis and suppressing the growing public discontent.
Sadly, the international community is turning a blind eye on the regime atrocities under the pretext of not putting in danger the nuclear negotiation.
To avoid such disastrous outcome the following must be done:
• Implement the UN Security Council resolutions including ending the enrichment of uranium and stopping Arak heavy water project.
• To sign the addition protocol and start the snap inspections.
• The international community must also demand an end to systematic and grave human rights violations, as well as its meddling in other countries, in particular in Syria and Iraq.
It is regrettable that the free world turns a blind eye to crime against humanity under the illusion that appeasement would lead to change of heart in a despotic regime.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Another aspect of this misguided policy is the case of nearly 3000 members of the Iranian opposition movement in Iraq which due to misconduct of the UN and misguided policy of the US has turned into an emergency humanitarian issue.
The US Government had made written commitment to protect the PMOI members in Camp Ashraf.
In the beginning of 2009 in violation of its commitment the US Government handed over the protection of camp Ashraf to Iraqi government, a puppet of Iranian regime, against the advice of relevant international organizations.
In 2012 the UN, supported by US Government, forced the residents to relocate to a prison called Camp Liberty with terrible living conditions.
They were promised security, protection and immediate resettlement outside Iraq.
Both UN and U.S. failed in their commitment and international community was only an indifferent observer.
Since 2009 the residents have been under a constant attack in Ashraf and Camp Liberty.
On September 1st 52 residents were massacred by Iraqi forces.
And these are pictures of 52 members of our movement, who were executed by Iraqi forces in 1st September
Many were handcuffed and then executed.
Seven more, including six women, were taken hostage.
We recently established that the Iraqi government has secretly buried the martyrs of September 1 massacre without informing their families.
They didn’t even tell them where their loved-ones were buried.
This evidence proves the direct role of the Iraqi government in this crime.
So far 116 residents have been killed in several attacks, 1375 have been injured and 18 lost their lives due to lack of proper access to medical treatment.
They have no security in Camp Liberty.
And What has been the reaction of international community?
UN and some governments have only condemned the crime, without taking any measure to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
They have not even started an independent investigation.
They have done nothing about the security of the residents in camp Liberty.
I would like to call on Norwegian Government to initiate an international effort to release the hostages and also to conduct an independent investigation regarding the September 1st massacre.
The UN Security Council must refer the investigation to International Criminal Court.
Dear friends,
The residents were promised by UN and U.S., that soon after relocation to Camp Liberty they will be relocated to safety outside Iraq.
Two years later, only 9% of the residents have been relocated.
Why did resettlement fail?
On one hand the UN and U.S. have failed to uphold their obligations.
On the other hand it seems that in many democratic countries there is less concern about human rights in other part of the world and support for refugees is fading away.
All the residents are protected persons under the fourth Geneva Convention.
They have been declared by UNHCR as asylum seekers and refugees and are protected by international law.
Where is that protection?
For every three person that has been relocated outside Iraq one has been killed.
The reality is even harsher than statistic.
All residents are in serious danger.
It is a disgrace to allow a religious fascism to meddle in human values of a democratic country and to prevent it from helping victims to their right to life.
However, mullahs’ efforts and enmity shows the fear of the regime of the PMOI and Iranian Resistance.
It highlights the inspiring role of the residents of Liberty for the people of Iran and their role against fundamentalism for the people of the region.
That is why the mullahs’ want to destroy them.
But my question today is for the international community.
Why silence and why inaction in the face of such humanitarian issue?
I have come here today to ask the Norwegian government to take the initiative to break this silence.
Norway has a rich tradition of defending human rights and has been the pioneer of protecting its values and that of defenders of human rights.
By accepting a good number of refugees from Liberty, Norway could open the way for other European countries.
I also urge every one of you to do your best to help the Government and facilitate the relocation of a group of residents to Norway.
You know that the NCRI is a alternative of mullahs regime that believes on republic democratic and pluralist based on separation religious and state believes in equality, gender equality believes in democracy and freedom for people in Iran and all of the world especially for the people in the region, for this reason I think your support for the member of PMOI especially in Liberty it help to peace and security in the region and in the world.
Thank you
