Maryam Rajavi’s Remarks in Magny-en-Vexin

It is indeed a great honor to take part in the ceremony inaugurating the “Hall of Tehran” at the Magny-en-Vexin municipality. In the name of the Iranian people, the Iranian Resistance and the residents of Ashraf, I thank you for this magnificent initiative.

I believe this ceremony, the inauguration of the “Hall of Tehran”, will be recorded in the annals of our nation’s history because your town, Magny-en-Vexin led the cause of defending human rights, freedom and democracy in Iran.

I believe this invaluable initiative will encourage the Iranian people, especially the arisen women in the streets of the capital, Tehran, to continue their struggle against the ruling religious dictatorship. The timing of this initiative is also very opportune because those who have risen up are under severe repression by the mullahs and their Revolutionary Guards, whether tortured in prisons or hanged in public.

But this compassionate act of solidarity represents a fitting defense for their struggle because those in Tehran and across Iran will recognize that free-thinking men and women like you and members of your town council are standing with them in their struggle.

I am confident that the Iranian people would be delighted to enjoy such friendship, solidarity and backing for their struggle.

You are no doubt aware that during difficult periods of struggle it is important for people to know who their friends are.

Regrettably, so far Western countries have been siding with the religious dictatorship ruling Iran. It is for this reason that I say your town is leading the way in defending freedom and democracy for the Iranian people, who would be quite jubilant to have you as their friends.

The Iranian people and Resistance will identify France’s humanitarian values and the French Republic with you because it is common knowledge that the French Republic recognizes human values, freedom, democracy, human rights, fraternity and equality.

It is my hope that some day every city and town in Iran would have a mayor and town council like Magny-en-Vexin. I also hope that the Iranian people could continue their struggle because they are deserving of freedom, democracy and a republic based on the separation of church and state, gender equality, democracy and freedom.

I am sure that day will come and I hope that it will come because the Iranian people need it as do Western and Middle Eastern countries.

You know that today, the Iranian regime’s terrorist and fundamentalist meddling in the Middle East is appalling and dangerous. I hope some day the world would be rid of religious dictatorship because this regime is a threat, not only for the Iranian people but also for the people of the world, in particular those in the Middle East. The Iranian regime is now the epicenter of terrorism and fundamentalism in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, Yemen, the Sudan and other countries.

I also believe that through its nuclear weapons program, the Iranian regime poses a serious threat to the rest of the world. For this reason, I believe the victory of the Iranian people is a victory for the world as a whole. I again thank you for what you have done, for your solidarity and friendship.

This medal is quite precious and I will place it in the Resistance’s museum so that the Iranians could see it. The medal represents the solidarity and friendship of your town, your municipality and personalities in Magny-en-Vexin. In reality, you reflect the invaluable values France represents, fraternity, solidarity and equality.

I thank you again and hope that one day we can invite you to the liberated Tehran and Iran. That day will be a day of jubilation for us and for you. I thank you for your initiative and the opportunity you gave me.

I wanted to present you a painting which symbolizes the Iranian people’s uprising. It reflects the resolve of the Iranian people, especially young people and women, to bring freedom to Iran, which I hope will come soon.

This is a symbol of Tehran, which you probably recognize and here is the picture of woman with the victory sign, meaning the result of our and their struggle for democracy. This is medal that embodies the Iranian people’s uprising and this is a map of Iran and with a torch engraved on it. This is a gift for your municipality.

This book is about Tehran and photos of Tehran for the “Hall of Tehran.”

Mr. Muller, I have said repeatedly that your are a man of principles, something of a rarity in this day and age. Unfortunately, politicians naturally pursue economic ties and business interests. Free-thinking men and women like you stand with human values and are hard to find. For this reason, I appreciate this reality and believe that your support for us, particularly following the difficult situation after June 17, 2003, the campaign of demonization and spreading misinformation by the intelligence services and the mullahs’ regime, was indeed strong and invaluable. I commend you. I commend your character and principledness. I believe you are a symbol of France which resists and insists upon its values. Your values are ours. I believe we will succeed together.

I hope that someday, we can name a hall in Tehran “Magny-en-Vexin Hall.” Now, Magny-en-Vexin is the sister city to Tehran. After the fall of the mullahs’ regime, we will have a Magny-en-Vexin Hall in Tehran’s municipality.