Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, December 2, 2020—As one of the most important terrorism cases of the century involving an Iranian diplomat unfolds in Antwerp, Belgium, 240 lawmakers from 19 European countries are calling on their governments to take a firm stance on the Iranian regime’s terrorism and rights abuses.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the International Committee of Parliamentarians for a Democratic Iran and the British Committee for Iran Freedom (BCFIF) issued a statement in which they warned against “the Iranian regime’s terrorist acts in Europe.”
The signatories of the statement drew attention to the case of Assadollah Assadi, a Vienna-based Iranian diplomat who is standing trial in Belgium along with his three accomplices for a failed bombing attempt against the annual rally of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
“In addition to tens of thousands of Iranians, the opposition leader Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the primary target of the conspiracy, was present at the rally, along with several hundred political figures from various countries. Had this terrorist operation succeeded, it would have undoubtedly left hundreds killed and many more wounded,” the signatories of the statement wrote.
The lawmakers also reminded that the bombing plot, along with similar terror and spying activities have led to the expelling of several Iranian diplomats from European countries since 2018.
“Since 2018 parallel with growing anti-government protests inside Iran, there has been an alarming surge in Iran state-sponsored terrorist plots in Europe targeting Iranian activists and dissidents on European soil, in particular members and supporters of Iran’s pro-democracy opposition coalition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), and the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI/MEK),” the European lawmakers stressed.
MP Bob Blackman, the co-president of the International Committee of Parliamentarians for a Democratic Iran, who is also a civil party to the trial Belgium, said: “Today we stand with the NCRI President-elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi and call on the UK and the European Governments to proscribe the entire IRGC and Iran’s Intelligence Ministry as terrorist organisations because these paramilitary institutions are critical to the regime’s internal repression and export of terrorism and must be denied funds and resources.”
In their statement, the lawmakers stressed that appeasement will only aggravate the Iranian regime’s terrorist activities. “Appeasing the regime and offering it sanction relief at this time only encourages its illegal and unacceptable behaviour,” British MP Steve McCabe said. “The most effective policy to counter these threats is a firm policy by UK and EU that puts pressure on the regime and backs the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people and their Resistance Movement led by Mrs. Rajavi.”
The lawmakers stressed that the regime’s terrorist activities are the flip side of the coin of intensified repression in Iran. “Through terrorism, the Iranian regime seeks to eliminate its opponents even on European soil,” they wrote in their statements.
Blackman also emphasized that the regime’s leadership is directly involved in terror acts such as the failed bombing plot against the Paris rally. “Evidence presented at the trial against Iranian diplomat Assadi prove beyond doubt that the decision to bomb the NCRI gathering in Paris was taken at the highest level of the Iranian Government and approved by the Supreme Leader. Assadi did not act on his own initiative but followed orders from Tehran. So, the UK Government must act with European allies to hold the entire regime to account.”
In their statement, the lawmakers called for a comprehensive approach to the Iranian regime’s terrorism.
1. The continuation of relations with Iran be made contingent upon the necessary guarantees from the Iranian regime to put an end to its terrorist acts on European soil.
2. Considering the Iranian regime’s use of diplomatic cover to carry out terrorist acts, the necessary practical warnings should be given to Tehran, such as the closure of its embassies and the expulsion of its ambassadors and diplomats.
3. In accordance with the Declaration of the European Union of April 29, 1997, Tehran’s intelligence agents, using the cover of diplomats, journalists, businessmen, etc., should be expelled, and the regime’s religious and cultural front institutions in Europe which serve as terrorist and fundamentalist centers should be closed. Per their statement: “Apart from the judicial process, which is independently underway in Belgium, we believe it is time to reconsider dealing with the Iranian state terrorism. We demand:
“1. The continuation of relations with Iran be made contingent upon the necessary guarantees from the Iranian regime to put an end to its terrorist acts on European soil.
“2. Considering the Iranian regime’s use of diplomatic cover to carry out terrorist acts, the necessary practical warnings should be given to Tehran, such as the closure of its embassies and the expulsion of its ambassadors and diplomats.
“3. In accordance with the Declaration of the European Union of April 29, 1997, Tehran’s intelligence agents, using the cover of diplomats, journalists, businessmen, etc., should be expelled, and the regime’s religious and cultural front institutions in Europe which serve as terrorist and fundamentalist centers should be closed.”
