MPs and senators attend a meeting at the Federal Parliament of Belgium, “Iran Uprising for a Democratic Republic”

Maryam Rajavi: Despite its brutal clampdown, the regime has been unable to stop the protests in the third month

A meeting entitled “Iran uprising for a Democratic Republic” was held at the parliament in Brussels, presided over by Ms. Els Van Hoff, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federal Parliament of Belgium.
Elected representatives of the people of Belgium in the Federal and local parliaments attended the meeting. The NCRI President-elect, Maryam Rajavi, addressed the conference online on the developments regarding the Iran uprising and the Iranian people’s expectations from the international community.
Maryam Rajavi told the conference:

Dear Ms. Van Hoff,
Honorable members of parliament,
I am pleased to see you.

First of all, I would like to thank you for your attention to the Iranian issue, and in particular the nationwide uprising of the Iranian people and also, for the adoption of a resolution in support of this uprising.
I would like to thank the President, Ms. Van Hoff, who has been supporting the Iranian people’s Resistance and especially the struggle of women against the mullahs’ fundamentalist regime.
Let me summarize the situation in Iran.

The latest figures

We are in the third month of the uprising.
Despite its brutal repression, the regime has not been able to stop the protests. 625 people, including 60 children and teenagers, were killed by the repressive forces including Kian, a ten-year-old boy killed in the town of Izeh, upsetting the Iranian people and all the people in the world who saw his pictures.
A few days ago, the regime attacked the cities of Javanrud, Mahabad, Andimeshk and other cities in Iran with armor and heavy weapons. Several people were killed and injured.
More than 30,000 people were arrested. Some were sentenced to death during the uprising.
The continuation of the uprising is an important development. The Iranian people have resisted with bare hands against the repressive forces’ savagery.

The outlook

The current situation in Iran is very sensitive. The regime has shown that it is capable of all crimes to remain in power. But in the face of the Iranian people’s courage, it has reached a dead end.
On the one hand, it needs more brutal repression. On the other hand, this repression stirs up resistance in the rebellious generation.
The regime’s leaders always warn against the activities of the resistance network inside Iran, especially the Resistance Units linked to the People’s Mojahedin Organization. These units play an important role in the continuation and organization of the uprising.

The nature of the uprising, women’s role against fundamentalism

This is a nationwide uprising of all Iranian people, men and women, and all minorities. The regime cannot stop it.
Women play a vanguard role because they have been the most oppressed by this misogynistic regime.
It is an uprising against the religious dictatorship whose central pillar is misogyny.
Since the mullahs came to power in Iran, the PMOI has opposed the regime’s misogyny and at that time the PMOI condemned the compulsory veil.
On March 8, 1979, PMOI women were beaten by the regime’s forces for defending women without veil.
Thirty years ago, our resistance published the book: “Islamic fundamentalism, the new global threat.”

I said at that time that women are the force of change in Iran. 25 years ago, I told the mullahs that you will be overthrown by women, exactly those women who have no value for you.
In the last 30 years, women have played a leading role in our movement at all levels.
The Iranian people, especially women, want to overthrow the mullahs because it is the necessary prerequisite to achieve their legitimate demands.
We say no to the compulsory veil, no to compulsory religion, and no to compulsory government.

The demands of the Iranian people

Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is an uprising for freedom. but an uprising of all the people of Iran in which women play a leading role.
In the streets they are shouting, “With or without the hejab, let’s march towards the revolution.”
It is an uprising for a free and democratic Iran, a republic where all members of the nation, Kurds, Baluchis, Arabs, Turks and Fars have the same rights.
No one should have any advantage or be discriminated against because of their religion or nationality.
The people of Iran have risen up against all kinds of dictatorships. That is why people are shouting in the streets: “down with the oppressor, be it the shah or the mullahs.”
It is the rejection of religious tyranny and the tyranny of the shah. Both regimes are against freedom.
According to the regime’s constitution, Khamenei has absolute power. The shah had also launched a one-party system. He had declared that the place of the opponents is in prison.
That is why the National Council of Resistance of Iran emphasizes three principles:
– the rejection of the entire ruling regime,
– the establishment of a republic,
– and the separation of religion and state.
These are our principles for a front of national solidarity and cooperation with the Iranian political forces.
We want equality in all fields, especially in political leadership. We believe in the right to autonomy
of ethnic minorities in the framework of Iran’s integrity.
We want a democratic and non-nuclear republic.

The international community / Belgium

Dear friends,
In this situation, the Iranian people expect the international community, and in particular European countries, to recognize their right to defend themselves and overthrow this regime.
– Put the Ministry of Intelligence and the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the terrorist list.
– Expel their agents from your countries.
– The overthrow of this regime is up to the Iranian people and their resistance, but democratic countries can stand with the Iranian people by shuting down the regime’s embassies, by ending their negotiations with the regime, and by imposing general sanctions on it.

Thank you very much.
I would be very happy to hear your views.