Speech of Maryam Rajavi – European Parliament
Dear friends, it is a great pleasure to be with you once again in this house of democracy. I have come to the European Parliament to call on the European people, parliaments, governments and other EU institutions to support the struggle for freedom of the suppressed people of my country.
We have risen up against a brutal regime which is the prime threat to human society, and its achievements and progress. Unfortunately, due to economic interests and the policy of appeasement, European governments have sided with the clerical regime in Iran.
Meanwhile, members of the European Parliament have echoed the conscience of the people of Europe by siding with the Iranian people and the Iranian Resistance . in their quest for change.
The resolution adopted on April 3rd which underscored the violation of human rights by the Iranian regime is the most recent initiative by the European parliament.
The mullahs’ anger at this resolution shows its effectiveness and importance. Yesterday, the regime’s so called parliament prepared an urgent resolution of its own against the resolution adopted by the European parliament.
This reaction shows mullahs’ lack of capacity for change or moderation. This regime cannot survive without hangings, torture, warmongering and terrorism in the region. I can inform you that the people of Iran praise this initiative by the European parliament. Previous initiatives of the European Parliament have pursued the same line.
When the PMOI was unjustly included in the terrorist lists in the US, UK and EU, when the PMOI sites in Iraq were ruthlessly bombed by UK and US, members of the European parliament courageously supported the PMOI and the legitimate resistance against the mullahs.
Members of this parliament were the pioneers in visiting Ashraf in a number of delegations after the war in Iraq.
The courageous campaign of members of the European parliament in defence of the PMOI members in Ashraf and Liberty has been a vital factor in preventing further crimes by the Iranian regime and its puppet government in Iraq.
Ashraf and Liberty have been targets of continuous attacks and massacres. Yesterday we commemorated the 3rd year of the massacre of April 8th, 2011. By adopting several resolutions, as well as constant parliamentary debates questions and speeches, MEPs have created a protective political shield for the Ashrafis.
Dear friends, ten months ago when the new president of the mullahs’ regime came to office, the Iranian Resistance rejected his claims of moderation. At the same time you rightly rejected the claims of moderation by Rouhani and by exposing this illusion and by your firm stance, you did not allow those advocating appeasement to legitimize the brutal regime ruling Iran.
In its resolution, the European Parliament emphasizes that: “The presidential elections were not held according to the democratic standards valued by the EU.”
Regrettably, western countries have maintained their inaction regarding the growing number of executions and suppression in Iran, as well as the regime’s direct role in the bloodbath in Syria and Iraq. But despite the policies of governments, your firm and clear positions vis-a-vis the religious fascism ruling Iran, and against the grave abuses of human rights, have always been a deterrent factor against the policy of cooperation of western countries with the criminals ruling Iran.
The people of Iran demand a firm position vis-à-vis the religious fascism ruling their country. They want the leaders of this regime to be brought to justice before international courts for crimes against humanity.
The mullahs and their lobbies outside the country have organized a diplomatic tour of government officials, trade delegations and parliamentarians to visit Iran to cover up their disgraceful claims and legitimize their atrocities. It is regrettable that the High Representative and a number of European foreign ministers have fallen into this trap.
Fortunately except a few, the majority of the MEPs rejected these trips.
These trips would also reduce the effect of the Geneva agreement. Over the past two months, Khamenei has actively formed a policy against the agreement.
The mullahs have obtained a relief on the sanctions, but they have not stopped their nuclear program.
Western countries must insist on shutting down nuclear sites and stopping the enrichment of uranium.
I warn that any concession or appeasement by the west will help the mullahs to obtain the bomb.
On behalf of the Iranian people and their Resistance, I urge western governments not to sacrifice human rights and freedom for the sake of negotiations and their relations with Iran’s religious fascism.
They must follow the European parliament’s April 3rd resolution which said: “Human rights dialogue with Iran should be part of the future policy framework of bilateral EU–Iran relations.”
The regime is facing growing instability. The gap created in the leadership of the regime as a result of the sham elections last year is widening.
Their weakness and inability to deal with growing crises forced them to agree with the Geneva agreement which has already intensified the internal crisis in the clerical regime.
The Iranian regime’s various proxies in Iraq are also divided. The mullahs fear that these crises will lead to a mass uprising against the regime.
They have therefore intensified suppression and executions in Iran, against which you have taken a firm position in the resolution of April 3rd. At the same time, the mullahs carried out the Ashraf massacre and missile attacks on Liberty through its puppet government in Iraq.
They have also intensified the the restriction of food and medicine to Liberty and are paving the way for the extradition of PMOI members.
The mullahs consider the PMOI to be their existential threat and therefore Camp Liberty is their prime target.
The silence and inaction of US, EU and UN has given a free hand to the mullahs and their proxies in Iraq to continue with their crimes.
I call on you to ask EU to use its leverage in order to:
*Free the seven Ashraf hostages
*Immediately relocate PMOI members from Liberty to Europe and the US
*Provide for all the protective needs of the residents
*Station UN observers and blue helmets in Camp Liberty while the residents are still there, and refer the investigation of the September 1st massacre in Ashraf to the International Criminal Court by UN Security Council
*Allow the residents to sell their property in Ashraf through their legal representatives
These demands were underlined in a number of your resolutions and positions which reflects the demands of freedom lovers in Iran.
Dear friends, allow me to once again express my deep appreciation for your courageous defence of Ashrafis and for freedom and democracy in Iran.
I thank Dr. Alejo Vidal Quadras for his outstanding leadership.
I extend my gratitude to Mr. Struan Stevenson, who echoes the voice of Ashrafis in the European Parliament. I also thank James Higgins, Stephen Hughes, Tunne Kelam and Mrs. Edit Bauer, and other distinguished members of the European parliament.
I am fully aware that you all have risked much to maintain your principle of opposition to the policy of appeasement.
You have adopted a new approach which is rare in the world of politics.
You have made sacrifices to support the right path. I have no doubt that your names for ever inspire a growing friendship between our people and Europe.
I thank you all very much.
