Deep bonds of friendship with the Iranian Resistance

On January 6th, Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the Iranian Resistance offered her wishes to the people of Auvers-sur-Oise and Val d’Oise province, who came in their hundreds to a gathering in response to her invitation. Mayors, city council officials, personalities, residents of Auvers and surroundings villages and across France gathered on Sunday evening to celebrate the advent of 2008.

The meeting, which began with a number of speeches centered on solidarity with the Iranian Resistance and the hope to see very soon freedom in Iran. It went on with a Persian cuisine at the rhyme of Iranian music and songs of talented local artists. As Jean-Pierre Béquet, the mayor of Auvers-sur-Oise, pointed out the region is henceforth used to celebrate two new years, the western on January 1st and the Iranian on March 21st. Conviviality and the friendship were the main words of this very popular event.

The event started with a message by Mrs. Rajavi as follows:

I wish you a very happy New Year, on behalf of the Iranian people and their Resistance.

I would like to greet our hosts from Auvers-sur-Oise and to give them my best wishes, as well as our dear neighbors from the other side of the Oise river, the residents of Méry-sur-Oise, and then all our friends from the Val d’Oise and beyond.

For me who dedicated my life to the freedom of my people, it is difficult to begin the year without being besides you. Because when I am with you, I have the feeling of being with my own family, the big family of Resistance. It means that with generous French people, from whom I shall always remember their kindness and the support; you are part of the happiness of our Resistance.

Allow me to begin by wishing a happy New Year to my Christian countrymen in Iran. Regrettably, under the mullahs’ regime, they cannot celebrate with joy the New Year with their family.

Regrettably also during Christmas and the New Year period, the monster of fundamentalism and terrorism whose heart beats in Teheran, killed French nationals in Mauritania and also stroke in Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan and especially in Pakistan with the murder of Benazir Bhutto. Once again, I like to express my profound sympathy to the peoples of these countries and to the families of the victims and I hope that peace and joy will replace this bitterness.

New Year celebration, as we can see it tonight, celebrates solidarity between French and Iranians who long for democracy and freedom. I am happy to see French people coming from all over the country in solidarity between our two nations.

This evening sends a message of hope to the Iranian people, because they see that their fight for freedom brings them new friends everyday. This evening also sends a message to the mullahs that every day in the world there are more and more people who oppose their savagery. This evening sends finally a message to the advocates of appeasement with the mullahs telling them that time to support the religious fascism has come to its end.

Fortunately, in 2007, the UN Security Council adopted two resolutions against the mullahs’ nuclear program and the UN General Assembly condemned violations of human rights in Iran.

A court of appeal in Great Britain removed the people’s Mojahedin from the British list of terrorist organizations. The court declared that Mojahedin are not involved in terrorism and that London’s decision to designate and to keep PMOI on this blacklist was perverse. It is a magnificent victory that happened thanks to the relentless efforts of sympathizers of the Resistance in Britain and especially 35 British parliamentarians. I pay tribute to all of them.

In France also a court in Paris relieved two Resistance’s sympathizers, by declaring that the terrible immolations which followed the events of June 17, 2003, were not an organized act, but a personal initiative. This verdict thus cancels the charge of cult stuck to the Resistance over the recent years by a campaign of demonization.

Yes, wherever there is justice and democracy, Resistance for freedom is victorious. Until now mullahs and their allies were able to progress in the darkness by bargaining. But if we work hand in hand, we can put an end to it.

In Iran teachers, workers and especially students rose several times by organizing demonstrations to demand a regime change.

2007 marked an important progress on the way of democracy in Iran. But as long as the religious fascism remains in power in Iran and pushes the Iranian and other nations in the region to greater suffering and bloodshed, this fight will continue. Fortunately the world realizes more and more that mullahs are a threat for the whole world. It is time that the western governments and particularly the French government recognize that a change of regime is not only in the interest of the Iranian people, but also of their own people. In fact, it is a necessity for security and peace in the world.

You, dear friends, you were the first to recognize this threat. You, dear friends, with your solidarity conducted a humanitarian act, you gave evidence of a correct political common sense and a commitment to the historic values of your country. On the beginning of the New Year it is an opportune occasion to pay tribute to your friendship and solidarity.

The year that has just started will be a year of harder fight for democracy in Iran. That is why we need your help and solidarity. When we win, when freedom will be established in Iran, you will be brilliant examples of solidarity among nations. And it will be in your honor.

I would like to speak to you about the City of Ashraf in Iraq, bastion of the Iranian Resistance at 50 km from the Iranian border. Some of you went there and saw the freedom fighters. Although thousands of km away from us, they are among us in spirit this evening and offer you all their wishes of happiness.

Those who are in Ashraf defend human values and progress for a free Iran. They fight for freedom and democracy in Iran, for peace and security in the region and in the world. They represent the most powerful obstacle against mullahs’ spread of fundamentalism in Iraq and the Middle East.

I hope that 2008 will be a year of success, good health and happiness for everyone of you and all the French people.