Analysis by PMOI/MEK
Strasbourg, Oct. 3, 2018 – The Friends for Free Iran in the European Parliament held a meeting on Wednesday in the legislative body’s headquarters in Strasbourg, France, in which MEPs from various political groups discussed the human rights situation in Iran, ongoing protests in Iran and the Iranian regime’s role in spreading global terrorism.
The meeting was also attended by Dr. Alejo Vidal Quadras, former VP of the European Parliament and president of the International Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ), and Mohammad Mohaddessin, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), who were guest speakers at the event.
Mohaddessin reiterated that in the past months, the Iranian regime has intensified its brutal human rights violations and terrorist behavior. Mohaddessin reminded the audience that the past decades have shown that the use of domestic and foreign violence is key to the Iranian regime’s survival.
I'm pleased to address @Europarl_EN today about the #IranProtests. Strikes & protests continued in September inc by truckers. Despite brutal suppression, in past 9 months the PMOI (MEK) has been able to continue the uprising through close links with Iran's young ppl #FreeIran2018
— Mohammad Mohaddessin (@Mohaddessin) October 3, 2018
In their speeches, MEPs reiterated that under the presidency of Hassan Rouhani, who is seen by many western politicians as a “moderate,” the human rights situation in Iran has deteriorated and executions have increased.
The MEPs also emphasized that in the past nine months, the people of Iran have made it clear through their nationwide protests that only regime change will fix the country’s problems.
“In these circumstances, the expansion of economic relations and investing in the ruling Iranian theocracy must be put in question,” the MEPs declared in a press release, adding that the beneficiary of any trade deal with the Iranian regime will be the Revolutionary Guards, the military outfit that reports to the Iranian regime’s supreme leader and is responsible for suppressing protesters and carrying out terrorist activities abroad.
The meeting’s participants also highlighted the role of the PMOI/MEK in the organization and continuation of ongoing protests in Iran, a fact that has also been acknowledged by the Iranian regime’s authorities.
“This clearly shows the strong presence and influence of the opposition movement in the current uprising and is indicative of the significant role of this movement as the political alternative in the establishment of democracy and human rights in Iran. The 10-point plan proposed by NCRI President Maryam Rajavi, which enjoys a lot of support in the European Parliament, calls for a secular parliamentary democracy, women’s rights, rights for ethnic and religious minorities and end to the death penalty,” the MEPs press release reads.
Speakers at the event also drew attention to the Iranian regime’s increase terrorist activities against the Iranian opposition, especially a foiled attempt at bombing the Free Iran 2018 rally, held in Paris in June, which “could have led to a major catastrophe.” The Free Iran rally was attended by thousands of Iranians as well as dignitaries from various countries.
The participants welcomed the French government’s decision to freeze the assets of Iranian regime
“In addition to the Iranian refugees, it would have left many victims among European and American personalities. The participation of an Iranian diplomat in this terrorist plot is shocking. The silence and inaction of the European Union against this crime is completely unacceptable. EU and its member states should put in place effective punitive measures to counter Tehran’s terrorist plots,” the MEPs warned.
The participants welcomed the French government’s decision to freeze the assets of Iranian regime institutions involved in the terrorist attempt and urged the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and the member states to condition economic and political relations with Tehran on putting an end to executions, concrete improvement of human rights and women rights and putting a definitive end to terrorism.
