Maryam Rajavi Meets Bishop Gaillot-Solidarity for peace and fraternity

On Friday, 5 May 2017, Maryam Rajavi met with Bishop Jacques Gaillot in Auvers-sur-Oise. In this meeting the threat of extremism under the pretext of religion and the genuine message of religions including Islam and Christianity for peace, fraternity and coexistence were discussed.

Maryam Rajavi said: Extremism, fundamentalism and terrorism which is currently taking place under the name of Islam has nothing to do with Islam. Islam is the religion of mercy and emancipation and not vengeance and violence. Islam is the religion of coexistence and fraternity and not sectarianism, war and hostilities. Theories like Velayat-e-Faqih and religious dictatorship which have been invented by Khomeini have nothing to do with Islam or Shiites. Khomeini, Khamenei and the religious fascism ruling Iran, which have invented and spread this theory, are the biggest enemies of Islam. The misuse of Islam, like other great religions, dates back to long ago, but the phenomenon that we are facing today, i.e. terrorism under the banner of Islam stems from the regime which has been ruling Iran for the past 38 years.

On behalf of the people of Iran and the Iranian Resistance, I welcome the recent remarks by Sheikh Ahmed Tayeb from Al-Azhar and Pope Francis regarding brotherhood between followers of Islam and Christianity in confronting extremism and terrorism which in my view is rooted in Iran under the rule of the mullahs. I call on all freedom-loving people of the world, all friends of peace and fraternity, and followers of all religions for solidarity in confronting extremism. 

Bishop Gaillot said Islam is the religion of fraternity and you, Maryam Rajavi, represent the true face of a tolerant and democratic Islam. The extremists don’t represent this true image of Islam. I believe that an emancipated Iran, free from the clutches of religious fundamentalism, will have a vital role in ending religious extremism and spreading peace and fraternity in the Middle East and the world over. Bishop Gaillot reiterated the motto that, “The other person is forever your brother.”