On June 17, 2003, the Iranian Resistance in France was faced with a dirty conspiracy and deal between the religious fascism ruling Iran and the French government.
During this conspiracy, the French police brutally attacked the headquarters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in Auvere-sur-oise, France and also the houses of members of Iranian resistance in Paris suburb and arrested the Resistance President-elect and hundreds of cadres, members and officials of the Iranian Resistance. During this infamous conspiracy, headquarters of the NCRI in Auver-sur-oise was ransacked by French Police and lots of properties were damaged.
These attacks which were carried out upon clerical regime’s request and in exchange of over $8 billion lucrative deal in the framework of the policy of appeasement by the French government prompted a wave of opposition in France and across the world.
Global Condemnations & Supports
In response to this shameless measure, hundreds of Iranians in France and other countries staged dry hunger strike.
Following the savage and unlawful attack by the French police on the residence of Mrs. Maryam Rajavi and the homes of Iranian political refugees in France, in separate letters addressed to the French former President and officials, dozens of European MPs, U.S. Senators and Congressmen, political & human rights personalities condemned unjustified actions of French police, asked for immediate release of Maryam Rajavi.
Mrs. Danielle Mitterrand, the wife of the late French President, Republican Senator Sam Brownback, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Congressmen Ed Towns, Lacy Clay, Dennis Moore, Lord Avebury, Lord Corbett, Lord Clarke, Lord Alton, Win Griffiths MP, as well as MEPs Glynn Ford, Dr. Helmuth Markov, and Paulo Casaca.
In his letter, Senator Brownback urged French not to turn their “backs on their country’s own rich tradition of supporting freedom, by doing the dirty work of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” He also stated: “I write to you with great urgency regarding your country’s recent actions against Iranian opposition figures – particularly Mrs. Maryam Rajavi … I urge the nation of France – which has long prided itself on being a protector of human rights and freedom of expression, to live up to its ideals and avoid action that would put it in league with the terrorist state of Iran”.
Congressman Lacy Clay stated: “I share the shock and outrage of the Iranian American community over this uncalled-for action against the Iranian community in France. The arrests serve the interests of the terrorist dictatorship ruling Iran”.
Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo emphasized
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a member of the Judiciary Committee of the US House of Representatives, emphasized: “I shed private tears for my sisters who have lost their lives … I am very disturbed by this arrest. I am very disturbed when a voice who is seeking among other things people’s freedom and just treatment have been arrested or have been taken into custody. As a woman I am particularly concerned about the President-elect, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi”.
Congressman Ed Towns of New York wrote: “While being outraged and utterly dismayed by this unjustifiable action which only serves the interests of the terrorist dictatorship in Iran, I urge you to intervene to arrange for the immediate release of Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran and other individuals detained in Paris to prevent the Iranian regime from taking advantage of this action”.
Congressman Dennis Moore added: “As you know, the ruling regime in Iran is notorious for its support of terrorism, its abysmal human rights record, and its efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction. At a time when internal and external pressures are encouraging reform in Iran, the very public arrest of so many opposition figures will undermine efforts to end the tyrannical rule of the mullahs”.
In a long statement, Lord Corbett denounced what he described as the shameful and brutal attacks on the residences of the Iranian Resistance in Paris. He stated: “It is shameful that the French government should now side with a regime which uses terror at home and sponsors it abroad rather than those who simply want to put mullahs in the mosques and freely-elected people in parliament and the government … Those detained on phony charges of terrorism should be released. They are guilty of only wanting freedom and democracy.”
Lord Avebury, Vice-Chairman of the British Parliamentary Human Rights Group stated: “I was shocked and dismayed to learn of the arrests of Mrs. Maryam Rajavi and some 165 other Iranian exiles living in Auvers-sur-Oise. The National Council of Resistance of Iran has been conducting peaceful political activities in western countries against the present regime in Iran for 20 years, and I would be grateful if you would let me know what has changed, to justify this arbitrary and repressive action”.
Win Griffiths, MP from the ruling Labor Party in Britain, said: “I was shocked to hear the news of the large scale arrests that were undertaken in France … The French Minister of the Interior made it very clear that this was a decision that was taken politically … It therefore seems to me that we are left with the only other explanation that there is a broader and darker political agenda in which the NCRI have become the victims and the pawns.”
In a statement Lord Clarke stated: “I share the sadness of so many democratic people, at a time when those who struggle to establish freedom and highlight the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses in Iran are suffering incarceration and the dreadful treatment that has been meted out to them by the French police. I support the National Council of Resistance of Iran and have had the pleasure of meeting Madam Rajavi on a number of occasions. So my thoughts are now with her as well as her friends and colleagues in their hour of need.”
In his letter to the former French President, Glynn Ford, Labor MEP, said: “I am concerned by reports of attacks by the French police against the Iranian refugees, who have been opposition activists or a part of Iran’s main opposition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran. This is contrary to any political principles, the Geneva Convention refugee protections, and certainly the French tradition… , I urge your direct intervention to ensure the immediate release of the National Council of Resistance of Iran’s leader, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi.”
MEP Paulo Casaca from Portugal wrote to Jacques Chirac: “I was particularly shocked and surprised over the treatment of the French government toward an organization which is opposed to the religious dictatorship ruling Iran. I believe the ridiculous claims concerning terrorism that has been repeated by a minister in your government are fitting to the Iranian regime. Mr. President, all democrats in Europe and across the world call for the freedom of dictators who rule Iran.”
MEP Dr. Helmuth Markov wrote: “I urge your intervention for the immediate release of Mrs. Rajavi. Mrs. Rajavi is a member of an organization which is struggling for democracy and respect for human rights in Iran.”
In his letter to the former French President, Mr. Hans Kristian Neerskov, President of The International Sakharov Committee wrote: “What is astonishing is that such a move is taking place against the movement, which has had no record of unlawful or “terrorist” activities in France or Europe … I urge you to free the movement’s President-elect, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi immediately and make sure that no extradition or expulsion will be applied to anybody who has been detained.”
The legitimacy and righteousness and endurance of the Iranian Resistance and the international condemnation of this shameful measure that had also irritated French public opinion, compelled the French government to stop sycophancy for religious fascism ruling Iran.
Ultimately, the French juridical power, preferring justice over politics, released the verdict of release of Mrs. Rajavi after 17 days of imprisonment.
