Maryam Rajavi: France should take the initiative on a new Iran policy in the European Union

Mr. President, Mr. Charasse,
Distinguished Representatives,
Dear friends,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I am delighted on the eve of the International Day of Human Rights to participate in this conference in the House of the French Democracy.

And I thank the Parliamentary Committee for A Democratic Iran that took the initiative of this conference.

The regime in power in Iran stirs the flames of war in all of Middle East. In Syria, the mullahs are directing a cruel war against the people with commanders of the Revolutionary Guards. In Iraq, the mullahs created a strategic corridor to send help to the Bashar Assad dictatorship. In Syria, you may know that the American press have reported that the mullahs’ terrorist Quds Force have suggested to Bashar al-Assad to use chemical weapons against the people. In the recent war in Gaza, the regime underlined that it was the power of its armed services that arose. In Lebanon, missiles under the mullahs’ command are ready for war. In Afghanistan, the Iranian regime is in the process of filling the vacuum left by American forces and the NATO. In Iran, the race for the atomic bomb is the preparation for a war against the whole world.

But, the most terrifying war of the mullahs is the one that they guide against the Iranian people. In November, more than hundred people have been executed. On November 13, 44 people were sent to the gallows. Two years ago, the mullahs’ pulic prosecutor said there were seventy arrests per hour. The following year, it was eighty. Whenever discontent increases, Khamenei orders an increase in the executions. Last month, the murder under torture of Sattar Behechti shocked the world. It is an example of what is taking place in the mullahs’ prison. Last week, the United Nations condemnation of the regime, showed the mullahs’ total hostility against human rights.

The Iranian people reject all currents seeking to maintain this regime or defend its constitution. After the 2009 uprising, the discontent increased significantly. From two years ago, the economy is now in a free fall in Iran. Gas, water, electricity is five to ten more expensive times, inflation is above 50%, unemployment passes 30%, the industrial production lowered 70%. The automobile industry, with Peugeot and Renault being a major industry, only reached half of its production this year and was just short of the bankruptcy.

On the other hand, the senior ranks are deeply divided. Khamenei’s influence lowers from day to day. There are no longer any exits for the mullahs. If they step back on the nuclear program or on their support for the Syrian dictator, they open the way for the downfall of their regime. And if they continue these policies, they will gain ware and the downfall of their regime.

In this situation, the victory of the Iranian Resistance in delisting from the US terrorist list, canalizes the crises of the regime toward its retreat, and gives hope and energy to the struggle in the society, in particular to youth and women. This is how our movement inside Iran renews its strengths and develop its networks of resistance.

If the western governments didn’t remain silent on human rights violations, the mullahs would not have upper hand.

At the behest of the mullahs, the western governments, notably France, put the Resistance on the terrorist lists. Because of this erroneous policy, the Iranian Resistance has been, in this country, under the judicial pressure during the past ten years. There are also the judicial files and the demonization that the mullahs fed with false documentation. But finally, last year the French judiciary annulled all accusations of terrorism against the Iranian Resistance.

The politics of appeasement with the mullahs prevented the Resistance from playing its role to open the way for change in Iran. It is this policy that led to the ten year siege of the members of the Resistance at Camp Ashraf in Iraq. And it is this policy that made Camp Liberty, where Ashraf residents have been relocated, into a jail. The Iraqi government, allies of the mullahs, deprives the resistant of their rights and their fundamental liberties. It doesn’t even recognize their right to property and prevents them from selling their goods. However the UNHCR recognized them as asylum seekers with fundamental protection.

The biggest political mistake of the West was to ignore a key movement of change in Iran.
A resistance endowed with deep roots in the Iranian society, with a democratic coalition of various groups of the opposition, with more of 50% of its senior officials being women. This resistance calls for a democratic and pluralistic republic, founded on separation of church and state, equality of the men and women, freedom of speech and gathering, abolition of capital punishment, and an Iran without nuclear. A society with equal economic opportunities, with a private sector, and development of free market.

The main strength of this resistance is the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran that stands for a progressive and democratic vision of Islam, and is the antithesis of Islamic fundamentalism. Yes, the only solution for the Iranian crisis is regime change by the Iranian people and its organized resistance.

International sanctions are positive measures. But they will only be efficient if the West changes its policies vis-a-vis the resistance. That is why it is necessary to adopt a new policy that guarantees regime change in Iran. It is in the Iranian people’s interest and necessary for peace and security in the world.

The French government, that played a leading role in recognizing of the Syrian resistance, should take the initiative of a new policy in the European Union. A policy of defending human rights in Iran and respecting the will of the Iranian people to change the mullahs’ regime. The Iranian Resistance asks calls on the French government and the European Union:

1 – To condition diplomatic relations with this regime to stopping executions and torture.
2 – To refer the mullahs’ terrifying human rights dossier to the UN Security Council.
3 – To assure the security and protection of the residents of Camp Liberty and Camp Ashraf, to call on the UN to give this camp a refugee camp status, and to respect Ashraf residents’ property rights and right to sell their goods.
4 – To recognize the Iranian Resistance for regime change.

I thank you.