“It is time to challenge the EU terror label against the PMOI with greater vigor”

Expressing her appreciation to members of the European Parliament for their efforts to remove the terror tag against the People’s Mojahedin of Iran, Mrs. Rajavi said,

“I believe history will judge friends of the Iranian Resistance for the contribution they have made to the world by showing the correct path in dealing with the mullahs’ regime.” She was speaking to a group of Euro MPs on December 18, in a meeting at the European Parliament in Brussels. The full text of her speech follows:

It is indeed a privilege to be here among you today. Your friendship with the Iranian people and Resistance is invaluable.

Fortunately, all of you know about the recent achievements of the Resistance and developments which relate to Iran.

Today, I would like to speak briefly about the outcome of these developments.

The first is the judgment of the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission issued on 30th of November which concluded that the People’s Mojahedin was not concerned in terrorism.

And last Friday, POAC refused the Home Secretary’s leave for appeal.

The Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission said: the Home Secretary’s request has been out of context and that she “has no reasonable prospects of succeeding on an appeal”

The political and judicial implications of the judgment shocked many.

While supporters of the Resistance are happy, the Iranian regime and its allies were disappointed.

From the start, it was clear that challenging the British government over the terrorist list would be difficult. Some even viewed it as mission impossible.

Nevertheless, 35 courageous Members of Parliament put up a remarkable fight against their own government in the interest of justice and truth. In the western world, they are pioneers of the right policy.

They believe that removing the barriers which restrict this resistance is necessary for global peace and security and also serves the interests of Europe.

I would like to now use this opportunity to offer my deep gratitude to all of them, in particular the Lord Slynn of Hadley, the distinguished jurist and a great friend of the Iranian Resistance who is here with us today.

Their efforts alongside the Iranian Resistance are a unique example of solidarity between democratic personalities in a European country and the Iranian people against religious fascism.

POAC had examined this case for two years. Fifteen volumes of documents and evidence were presented to the court by both sides.

They included 20 witness statements, one of them your dear friend Mr. Casaca.

The file included all kinds of misinformation about the Resistance. The judges read all the allegations carefully and finally ruled that the PMOI was not involved in terrorism.

The British government did everything to prevent such a judgment. It even used the services of the Iranian regime’s intelligence agents.

As such, the initiative by the appellants was not an easy task. They also came under political and propaganda attack by the mullahs.

But, they stood their ground. The court itself also came under indirect political pressure.

The British government’s support for the mullahs’ dictatorship was obvious and shocking.

Lord Corbett, the Chair of Labor peers said that the UK had been siding with the most active state sponsor of terrorism.

Several Members of Parliament said they were embarrassed by their government’s behavior.

Despite all of this, members of parliament succeeded and the British government was disgraced for supporting the mullahs. This victory is a major asset for this movement and its friends. We have a saying in our movement which says:
“WE CAN AND WE MUST.”

Our victory in POAC paved the way for ending the unjust terrorist label.

With this example, I believe our friends in other parliaments can compel the European Union to end its defiance of the Court of First Instance ruling of 12th December 2006.

Dear Friends,

Your position as advocates of democracy and freedom in Iran at the European Parliament is similar to the British parliamentarians who support the Resistance.

They succeeded in breaking the political blockade placed on the PMOI, requested by the mullahs.

With respect to justice and truth, the PMOI has not been and is not a terrorist organization.

However, had it not been for the Resistance’s efforts and if the British lawmakers had not turned the political climate in the UK in favor of the Resistance, perhaps POAC would not have been in a position to issue such a ruling.

In addition to Lord Slynn, a former Home Secretary and two ex-Solicitors Generals were among the appellants. In addition to supporting the Resistance, they also protected the interests of their own country.

I am grateful that you are on the same path in the European Parliament.

You have shown that it is in the interest of the European Union to stop supporting the religious fascism.

It is time to challenge the EU terror list with greater vigor.

The British government’s decision to proscribe the PMOI formed the basis of the EU decision. Now, that pillar has been removed, undermining the EU’s labeling of the PMOI.

After the POAC judgment, the Council of Ministers can no longer defend its decision.

POAC declared the British government’s decision as being ‘perverse’. This means that the EU list is also ‘perverse’ and must be set-aside.

A new era has begun in which greater objectives could be achieved.

Honorable deputies,

The US National Intelligence Estimate is the other issue I would like to briefly discuss.

The Estimate reaffirmed the importance of the nuclear revelations by the Iranian Resistance. It interrupted parts of mullahs’ nuclear weapons program.

Following this report, the US Vice President, National Security Advisor, Deputy Foreign Minister and many other officials and lawmakers stressed that it was the Iranian opposition which had informed the world about the danger of the mullahs’ program.

Contrary to the findings of the National Intelligence Estimate, we have no doubts that the mullahs’ regime has resumed its nuclear weapons program since long ago.

Obtaining nuclear arms is strategic objective and a guarantee for the existence of the Iranian regime. It will never abandon it.

I warn about the mullahs’ deception and cover up. This is their tactic to buy time so that they could get the bomb.

Using the NIE to call for more concessions to the regime would help it to obtain the bomb and harm peace.

Today, even the regime’s officials admit that four years of nuclear talks with the West gave them the opportunity to complete their nuclear facilities.

The policy of appeasement has brought the mullahs closer to the bomb, whereas the revelations by the Iranian Resistance have contributed to world peace.

Do not repeat the same mistake. The solution is not appeasement, it is firmness.

Let me also use this opportunity to say a few words about Ashraf.

The mullahs’ regime considers the PMOI as a threat to its existence and the city of Ashraf as the main political and cultural barrier against its influence in Iraq. It is, therefore, engaged in a plot to exert pressure on the PMOI and expel it from Iraq.

The European Parliament resolution of 12 July 2007, positions adopted by the International Committee of Red Cross, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq have reaffirmed the fact that the PMOI is protected by the Fourth Geneva Convention, International Humanitarian Law and the principle of non-refoulement. Their involuntary expulsion from, or displacement in, Iraq is prohibited.

Simultaneously, Iraqi political leaders particularly Dr. Tariq Al-Hashemi, Iraqi Vice President; Dr. Iyad Allawi, former Prime Minister; Dr. Adnan Duleimi, leader of the National Accord Front, Dr. Saleh Matlak, leader of the National Dialogue Front; Sheikh Khalaf Al-Alyan, leader of the Council of National Dialogue and Dr. Nadim Jaberi have on different occasions stressed that the presence of the PMOI in Iraq is based on international conventions, according to which the PMOI members are considered political refugees.

I have no doubt that the European Parliament and you, friends of the Resistance, will again lead the campaign in defending of the rights of Ashraf and neutralizing the direct and indirect schemes of the mullahs’ regime.

Another development is the growing popular uprisings throughout the country, particularly by Iranian students. In early December, the Iranian Resistance called for a week of action to honor the historic Students Day in Iran. In response, tens of thousands students from 15 universities in12 cities staged demonstrations. Many students were arrested and their fate remains unknown.

The protests have become more political in recent months, with the students chanting “Death to the dictator.” In addition to the students, women, teachers, workers and other sectors of society are also demanding change.

In response, the mullahs have stepped up repression. Nearly 300 prisoners have been executed so far this year. These protests form the basis for the Resistance’s solution, namely, the third option.

Those governments which refuse to give up the policy of appeasement are standing against the Iranian people. They bear responsibility for the daily executions of youth in Iran, as well as the carnage in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries in the Middle East.

They bear responsibility for the catastrophe in which the mullahs are dragging the world. They are hiding the threat of the religious fascism from their own people.

Today, the judiciary, lawmakers and the people of Europe stand with the Iranian people and their Resistance.

One should ask the Council of the European Union and the British government, why they are still continuing to stand with religious fascism.

In order to counter EU’s breach of the rule of law we have two important court judgments. The first is the Court of First Instance, and the second is POAC in the UK.

These judgments are the legal means for victory. I am absolutely sure that your efforts and if I may say, determination could lead to the removal of the PMOI from the EU terrorism list.

I am confident that our struggle coupled with your efforts would lead to victory.

I believe history will judge friends of the Iranian Resistance for the contribution they have made to the world by showing the correct path in dealing with the mullahs’ regime.

I thank you very much!