Defying the verdict of the European Court means mocking European judicial system

“This is not only about the fate of the Iranian Resistance.

This is not only about opposing the establishment of liberty and democracy in Iran. This is about irresponsible decisions which make of peace and security in the world, and particularly of the life of European citizens, hostages of the mullahs” said Mrs. Rajavi during an international conference of pre-eminent international and European law experts and European parliamentarians.

Address by Maryam Rajavi,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is great to see so many distinguished jurists and experts in this conference, rising to defend of the rights of the Iranian people and resistance. I would like to thank you for your efforts during the last five years against the unjust terror label against the People’s Mojahedin. I thank in particular Lord Slynn of Hadley, Messrs. David Vaughan and Jean-Pierre Spitzer and their colleagues.

The efforts and resolve of the Resistance have finally borne fruit as the European Court of Luxembourg confirmed that the blacklisting process of the PMOI was from beginning to end full of injustice and violations of its rights. This process led to a serious mistaken assessment. Consequently, the court’s decision undercut the credibility of the terrorism charge.

This verdict is not only a great victory for the People’s Mojahedin and the Iranian Resistance, but it is also a victory of justice over political expediency. Now, all those who want to defy this judgement violate the law – the pillar of democracy.

However, as one could expect, the mullahs’ regime reacted in private and in public by all means in order to obstruct the implementation of the ruling. Four days after the announcement of the Court’s verdict, the advisor to the mullahs’ Supreme Court said, “We are not going to step back because a European Court returned a verdict”. He vowed to question this judgement. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman also rejected the judgement of the European Court, particularly the decision to annul the freezing of the PMOI’s assets, saying it was legally groundless and unacceptable.

Moreover, as usual, the regime has exerted great pressure on European diplomatic circles. We learnt that behind the scenes, the mullahs’ regime said that the European Court’s verdict was an obstacle to its relationship with Europe. The exact request from the mullahs was that the European Union officials take a position against the Luxembourg Court’s judgement.

Afterwards, the European Council arbitrarily refused to acknowledge that the People’ Mojahedin was no longer on the list. The position on January 30 by the European Council is completely illegitimate and unacceptable, since in its verdict, the court clearly removed the PMOI from the list and stressed that no restriction could be imposed on this movement in the framework of the war on terrorism.

Consequently, the letter by the European Council on keeping the PMOI on the list is blatant violation of the law. This clearly demonstrates the political nature of this label and the absence of judicial and legal foundations. In this letter, the Council explained that the reason for the blacklisting of the PMOI came from the decision of March 29, 2001 of the-then British Home Secretary, Mr Jack Straw. Yet, when he was Foreign Secretary, Mr. Straw acknowledged in two separate interviews in January 2006 that the decision had been taken at the mullahs’ behest.

To all those who pursue this policy to keep this label on the People’s Mojahedin, we have say that this label has serious consequences and that lives are in danger. These days, the mullahs’ regime, with the help of its agents in the Iraqi government, is using the terrorism list as pretext to plot the expulsion or the murder of the People’s Mojahedin based in Ashraf City, in Iraq. Yes, the label continues to exact a price.

Therefore, we are facing a matter which is far beyond injustice. The refusal of the European Council is an arbitrary act, repressing justice and making a mockery of law, democracy and human rights. Five years ago, when the People’s Mojahedin were placed in this terrorist label, we saw exactly the same thing: a decision taken without any precise assessment and control, which violated the statement of reason, the right to a fair hearing and the presumption of innocence. This decision violates the right to respect for private life and dignity of the members of the resistance as individuals.

All these violations in the past five years have been justified under the pretext that they were based on confidential documents. Yet, during the trial, the lawyers of the European Council were unable to show the judge any of these confidential documents. In fact, by taking this position, the European Council continues the failed policy of appeasement towards the mullahs at the expense of the Iranian people and its resistance, and also to the detriment of democracy and European justice.

Unfortunately, the European Council met the mullahs’ demands, giving primacy to diplomatic and trade considerations over justice.

In this confrontation, the European judicial authorities and the majority of parliamentarians from many European countries, as well as eminent peace and human rights advocates, reject terrorism charges against the PMOI. Yet, European authorities will not rescind their appeasement policy towards the mullahs.

Let me issue a warning: The twenty-year policy of appeasing the mullahs is leading to a new catastrophe. Each time, it begins with a repressive and unjust initiative against the resistance movement. This injustice is accompanied by huge concessions to the mullahs. Then, it paves the way for the expansion of fundamentalism, terrorism and the nuclear bomb and leads to numerous violations of laws and disregard for democracy and the basic principles upon Europe was founded.

Yes, this is not only about the fate of the Iranian Resistance. This is not only about opposing the establishment of liberty and democracy in Iran. This is about irresponsible decisions which make of peace and security in the world, and particularly of the life of European citizens, hostages of the mullahs.

Ladies and gentlemen,

If this label was an injustice for the resistance movement, then defying the verdict of the Court means mocking European judicial system. Can we allow religious fascism to make a mockery of the judgement of European judicial institutions? Can we allow a blatant violation of laws to the detriment of justice, democracy and the fundamental European values? No, definitely not. That is why the European Union needs to abide by the decision of the European Court and remove the PMOI from the terrorism list.

I call on all governments and European parties as well as peace and human rights advocates to join together to correct the mistake which has dealt a severe blow to Europe’s standing in Iran, in the Middle East and among anti-fundamentalist Muslims.

The problem is that Iran has been emerged as a major international crisis. The appeasement policy dealing with this crisis failed. War and foreign intervention are not the solution to the Iranian problem. There is a viable and effective solution: democratic change by the Iranian people and their resistance.

I pay tribute to you all and I urge you for help us to continue the
this campaign against baseless charges which make peace and democracy hostage to the mullahs. This is a fight for, for freedom and democracy in Iran.

Thank you.