Conference in Paris: Ramadan, A Month of Brotherhood and Tolerance vis-à-vis the Velayat-e Faqih and Fundamentalism
Maryam Rajavi: No Religious Coercion, No Compulsory Religion
Dear sisters and brothers,
Warm greetings and heartfelt congratulations to each of you on the advent of the Holy Month of Ramadan.
Your presence in the home of the Iranian Resistance during these early days of Ramadan is a profound testament to the true spirit of solidarity among the peoples of Muslim nations, united in defiance of the principal enemy of the people of the region and all Muslims, namely the Velayat-e Faqih regime ruling Iran.
On behalf of the Iranian people’s resistance, I also extend my sincere congratulations on Ramadan to Muslims around the world, especially to the people of neighboring and brotherly nations, as well as the Muslim community in France.
O Lord, in this sacred and blessed month, bestow Your special mercy upon our sisters and brothers across these nations. Deliver the people of Palestine from war, bloodshed, and displacement, and rescue the people of Iran from the bondage of oppression and execution.
For many years, the Iranian Resistance’s Iftar of solidarity with representatives of the peoples of the region was a gathering of prayer for the freedom of the Syrian people. Thanks be to God that this year, the people of Syria observe Ramadan liberated from the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad.
Tribute to Sid Ahmed Ghozali
Distinguished guests,
Every year, at our Iftar gathering, we were honored by the presence of an exceptional figure and a man of impeccable integrity—my esteemed brother, the great Mojahed, former Prime Minister of Algeria, Sid Ahmed Ghozali. He was an unforgettable symbol of the region’s solidarity and a voice of hope and determination in the struggle against fundamentalism backed by the mullahs in Tehran.
Mr. Ghozali inherited the values of the Mojahedin and the revolution of Algeria. Now, he has returned to his Creator. Indeed, we belong to God, and to Him we shall return.
Let us begin this year’s gathering and Iftar in his memory and honor.
We shall never forget that at the 2009 Iftar gathering, the late Sid Ahmed Ghozali announced the formation of the Arab-Islamic Committee in Defense of Ashraf, a committee formed with the participation and support of parliamentarians, legal experts, religious figures, and Islamic scholars from Arab and Muslim countries, as well as from France. Under the auspices of this committee, he led a relentless campaign to defend the rights of Ashraf residents who, at the time, were at risk of being slaughtered and massacred. He also actively participated in the campaign against the misguided decision of Western governments in offering concessions to the clerical regime and placing the PMOI on their terror lists.
He always reminded the inhuman nature of Khomeini’s and Khamenei’s regime and the countless atrocities they had committed. In the Iranian Resistance’s World Summit in 2010, addressing the leaders of Arab and Islamic countries, he deeply lamented, “Know that no government in the world has killed as many Muslims as the Iranian regime has, and with as much brutality.” He emphasized, “This is why we are committed to exposing the 1988 crime. It is against the interests of humanity to let this grave event, a massacre, remain unacknowledged.”[1]
The most brilliant perspective of the late Ghozali was a comprehensive theory he had on the fate of Muslim societies, which he summarized in the imperative of a democratic alternative to the fundamentalism arising from the religious tyranny ruling over Iran.
His important conclusion, which he consistently emphasized in his speeches and writings, was this: “Iran is a country in the Islamic world that possesses a grass-roots democratic force embodied in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran.” He went on to say, “I believe that intellectuals, freedom-loving individuals, and democrats in Arab and Islamic countries must take the lead in supporting this Resistance, as they are in dire need of this unique example in our era.”[2]
The essence of Prime Minister Ghozali’s viewpoint, which he expressed at a gathering at Ashraf-3, was: “Beyond resistance, beyond sacrifices, beyond this capacity, the rebirth of resistance after devastation, what I and history will remember is that the residents of Ashraf embody and prove that the Iranian Resistance is, of course, a resistance against oppression, a struggle and sacrifice, but it is also a cultural project for civilization. The men and women of Ashraf embody this unique characteristic of the Iranian Resistance where the issue for them is not just battle, but also the construction and revival of a civilization—one of the jewels of human civilization, namely the Iranian civilization.”[3]
Mr. Ghozali repeatedly praised the role and stature of Massoud Rajavi, the leader of the Iranian Resistance. On one occasion, he wrote in Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper: “The people of Iran see in the leader of the Resistance, the person who expresses the depth of their anger at the regime ruling Iran, the qualification to lead the fight to overthrow this regime and establish a democratic and humane government in Iran.”[4]
Sid Ahmed Ghozali was one of those great individuals in whom humanity takes great pride. Today, he is in the company of martyred heroes, and his countless acts of goodness will never be forgotten. I repeat a phrase, once I heard from him, about himself today: “Only God can reward such goodness.”
The Collapse of the Mullahs’ Strategy in the Region
Esteemed guests,
Dear sisters and brothers,
Since last Ramadan, the region has witnessed profound changes. The collapse of the Syrian dictatorship marked the clerical regime’s most significant defeat in the past four decades, particularly as it had already lost its hegemony over Lebanon. With these events, a critical pillar of Khamenei’s strategy for the survival of the accursed Velayat-e Faqih regime, namely the export of war and crisis under the guise of exporting revolution, has collapsed and brought it closer to overthrow.
At the same time, the regime is surrounded by acute social discontent, a shattered economy, and international isolation. Amid these challenges, the most significant existential threat to the regime is its democratic alternative, as it directs intense social protests toward the regime’s overthrow. Moreover, this alternative has presented a powerful antithesis to the regime’s extremely reactionary belief system. This antithesis is democratic Islam, which targets the very roots of religious regression under the name of Islam.
This antithesis—democratic Islam—is a belief system deeply rooted in the history, culture, ethics, and the combative conscience of Iranian society, which has directly blossomed from the struggle against the dictatorships of the Shah and the mullahs.
It is an interpretation of Islam free from retrogression, backwardness, and dogmatism, with a goal that Islam has pursued from the very beginning: to unchain the hands and feet of people and to liberate their hearts and minds.
Indeed, as the Quran says: “He removes from them their burdens and the shackles that were upon them.”
The Emancipating and Tolerant Islam
The Islam of Khomeini, with all of its crimes and villainy, is defined by the constitution of Velayat-e Faqih, in its governmental experience, and in the sea of blood, it has spilled. However, we believe in a liberating Islam that embodies the spirit and essence of a steadfast and indomitable resistance that has stood against two dictatorships for 60 years.
This belief is against tyranny, oppression, and exploitation, and embodies the dynamism of fighting against them. It defends gender equality and considers the people’s vote as the sole criterion for the legitimacy of a political system.
Dear friends,
One of the core principles of democratic Islam is the rejection of any form of compulsion. Any form of coercion—forcing people to accept something they do not want—and depriving the masses of their will and free choice have no place in the liberating Islam.
Under the rule of the clerics, these forms of coercion are explicit principles that permeate the entire constitution of Velayat-e Faqih. In reality, it is a brutal religious dictatorship dressed in the guise of law. However, any form of coercion or compulsion contradicts the true essence of religion. Based on the Quranic guidance “There is no compulsion in religion,” we say, “no religious coercion, no compulsory religion.”
The essence of this belief was articulated by Massoud Rajavi in 1981, stating: “Contrary to Khomeini’s approach, our Islam does not need to establish any kind of legitimacy (including political legitimacy) through coercion and compulsion… We deeply believe that the true flourishing of Islam is possible only through the absence of any discrimination, privilege, and political and social coercion.”
Separation of Religion and State
The NCRI Plan on the Separation of Religion and State, adopted 40 years ago, is based on such a conviction.
In the NCRI’s program, published in October 1981, it states: “By declaring the equality of political and social rights for all members of the nation, it recognizes the abolition of all gender, ethnic, and ideological privileges, and considers public elections and votes as the only source for the legitimacy of elected officials.”
The NCRI program emphasizes, “Politically and socially, neither women nor men, nor ethnicity, nor belief or religion… none of them have legal precedence over the others, without the backing of public votes. Everyone has equal legal rights to run for office and to vote.”
Based on these beliefs, the NCRI approved a plan in November 1985, which stated that following any religion or belief is not considered a privilege in the political, educational, judicial, or social spheres.
This plan emphasizes religious freedom, rejects any form of religious coercion or ideological scrutiny, and declares that laws not originating from the country’s legislative body are not considered valid.
With the introduction of this plan, now marking its 40th anniversary, the Resistance Movement has emerged as the leading force in defending the separation of religion and state, both in Iran and across the region, and advancing the fight against religious tyranny.
The Plan on the relationship between religion and state is:
Historically, a legacy of the principles and values of progressive struggles dating from the Constitutional Revolution to the present.
Politically, a charm that nullifies religious tyranny and the fascism of Velayat-e Faqih.
Socially, it is essential for rejecting misogyny and ensuring women’s liberation.
Nationally, it is a factor of solidarity among followers of diverse beliefs.
The Quran explicitly states that Islam does not make distinctions between any of the religions.[5]
And these are God’s commandments to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
So, remind them, for you are only a reminder. You are not over them, a controller;
And We have not sent you except as a giver of good tidings and a warner;
And We have sent you not but as mercy to the worlds.
You are merely a reminder, not someone who controls or watches over them.
We have sent you only to deliver glad tidings and warnings. We sent you solely as a mercy to the peoples of the world.
Dear sisters and brothers,
I began my words by honoring the late Sid Ahmed Ghozali.
Allow me to conclude by sharing his prayers in one of the Iranian Resistance’s gatherings during the month of Ramadan:
We pray that the suffering people of Iran may be freed.
We pray that the efforts and activities of the PMOI and the residents of Ashraf be successful.
We pray for the families of the martyrs.
And we pray for the realization of a free Iran and a brotherly Iran for the entire region.
And today, I add, we pray that the Almighty may spread the values and virtues of noble individuals like Mr. Ghozali throughout our region and our world. We pray that our country, our region, and our world may soon be freed from the grip of Velayat-e Faqih, and that war and bloodshed in the region may give way to peace and fraternity.
Amen, O Lord of the worlds.
[1] 26 June 2010
[2] June 28, 2007
[3] August 13, 2019
[4] December 6, 2008
[5] The Family of Imran, Verse 84
