Live Report from Paris, PMOI/MEK
Paris, June 30, 2018
Massoud Rajavi
7:50 PM Paris time
Kak Baba Sheikh Hossein, Secretary General of Khebat organization, Iranian Kurdish opposition movement, takes the floor.
The NCRI is the only alternative to the regime of Iran. I salute the freedom fighters of Iran and the Kurd fighters.
Kak Baba Sheikh Hossein, Secretary General of Khebat organization
8:00 PM Paris time
Romanian delegation takes the floor to address the Free Iran Gathering
Ben-Oni Ardelean, Vice-chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania: We believe that we all have to be a free society. We support you. Stay on track. Be on the right side.
Ben-Oni Ardelean, Vice-chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania
Laurence Fehlmann Rielle, Member of Swiss Federal Parliament: Madame Rajavi’s ten-point plan is supported across the world. We will support and with the efforts of the Iranian people, it will become possible. Long live the Iranian people.
Laurence Fehlmann Rielle, Member of Swiss Federal Parliament
Next, the youth delegation from Poland and Slovakia took the floor. Their members expressed their concern with the situation in Iran and their support for the fight for human rights in Iran.
Youth delegation from Poland and Slovakia
Delegation from Poland: Equal rights matter a lot. We oppose injustice. Maryam Rajavi is a symbol of freedom.
We share the pain of the people of Iran. We as the Polish nation are perfectly familiar with your plight.
Delegation of dignitaries from Poland
8:15 PM Paris time
Footage shown of protests in Khorramshahr, Khuzestan, and clashes between the people and the regime’s security forces.
At the end of the event, a delegation of Iranian organizations and communities from across the world take the floor. These were the communities that supported and helped organize the Free Iran Gathering.
Grand Gathering of the Iranian Opposition, Paris 2018
7:35 PM Paris time
Ad Melkert, former leader of Dutch Labor Party and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, takes the floor.
Melkert: I thank Albania setting an example that should make many other European countries blush. I join you to reaffirm our commitment that fanaticism and expansionism will end. All Iranian citizens will enjoy good life. Change in Iran is within reach.
Ad Melkert, former Special Representative of the UN Secretary General
Your cause responds to a global concern about export of terror and threat to peace. Your cause resonates far beyond the borders of Iran. The voice of citizens must resonate beyond the sounds of guns and those hiding behind them.
Our common wish is that Iran will become a beacon of trust and stability. The day is drawing closer that change will become.
7:40 PM Paris time
Another song performed by Shams, a traditional Iranian warrior song.
Another song conducted by Shams
7:10 PM Paris time
In tandem with the Free Iran Gathering, protests are taking place in Khoramshahr, Khuzestan. The crowd at the gathering chant slogans in support of protesters in Iran.
Next, Salman al-Ansari from Saudi Arabia takes the stage.
Al-Ansari: I congratulate you for sending a message of peace. The people of Iran have been the victim of their regime, who has killed pregnant women and 12-year-old girls. Those who remain silent in face of the regime should be ashamed.
Al-Ansari official from Saudi Arabia
Even the Mecca was the victim of a plot by the Iranian regime. Today is a victory for civilized and knowledgeable Iran, not the Iran of Khomeini and Khamenei and Soleimani and Rouhani. The regime of Tehran is an extremist regime and against everything the Quran represents.
I would like to reiterate my solidarity and my support, because we have and will always be by your side and will remain to be so until we free Iran.
7:25 PM Paris time
General George Casey, former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, takes the floor to address the Free Iran Gathering.
General Casey: Many of us in the U.S. military have seen how Iran uses terrorism to accomplish its objectives. In Iraq it used sectarian violence to achieve its goals.
US General George Casey
Iran is directly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of coalition forces and thousands of Iraqis.
Today they are still destabilizing the region. Change must come to Iran before it can behave correctly.
7:30 PM Paris time
A song performed by orchestra conducted by Shams with the voice of several Iranian singers
Song performed by orchestra conducted by Shams
7:00 PM Paris time
A delegation of women’s rights activists take the floor.
Delegation of women’s rights activists
Maria Candida Almeida, Deputy Attorney General and former Attorney General of Portugal: We are delivering a statement to Madame Rajavi, the symbol of hope.
The people of Iran deserve the support of the world.
Ranjana Kumari, Equality movement activist from India: Women are the force for change in Iran. We support their courage. The message of the Iranian people to the regime is, “Your days are numbered.”
Iranians have clearly made their mind for regime change and the establishment of separation of religion and politics.
Elena Alverdin: All the women who have been detained must be detained immediately.
We commend the relentless efforts of Mrs. Rajavi and her ten-point plan in tomorrow’s Iran.
Thousands upon thousands of Iranian Opposition Suporters in Paris Gathering, 2018
The delegation of women call on Mrs. Rajavi to join them and offer their statement to her.
6:50 PM Paris time
Frances Townsend, former assistant to the US President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, takes the floor.
Townsend: Women continue to lead this movement and this is a great threat to the regime. The women are the roses that will lead Iran to the future. To the women of Ashraf we say, we are proud of your courage and are inspired by your courage.
Frances Townsend
6:55 PM Paris time
A delegation of distinguished women with great achievements take the floor to address the convention.
Rama Yade, former French Minister of Human Rights: The women of Iran are continuing to lead since six months despite the threats.
One thing is for sure. Change in Iran will not come from outside, simply because Iran belongs to Iranians.
Rama Yade, former French Minister of Human Rights
Ingrid Betancourt, former Colombian Senator and presidential candidate: Since Dec. 28, we are witnessing how Maryam Rajavi has been delivering what she promised. Here, a few years ago, she announced 1000 Ashraf to topple the corrupt dictatorship in Tehran. That is happening right now.
Maryam has brought to life a thousand Ashraf, but it is the courage of all the people fighting in the streets of Iran that will bring this uprising to victory.
Ingrid Betancourt, former Colombian Senator and presidential candidate
To the thousands of women leading the protests, the mothers, daughters, sisters of the 1988 massacre victims, to the people who are fighting against the corruption of the mullahs, to the 80 million Iranian people taken hostage by the mullahs, we are with you inch by inch to the path to democracy.
6:45 PM Paris time
Delegation from Albania takes the floor to address the Free Iran Gathering
Pandeli Majko, former Prime Minister of Albania: We understand each other from the language of the heart. Albania’s choice was to help the Iranian people who were in need. This is the reason that 3,000 Iranians are sheltered in Albania. We are waiting to see you soon in Tehran.
Pandeli Majko, former Prime Minister of Albania
Fatmir Mediu, Leader of Albanian Republican Party: Many people ask why Albanians offer help to our Iranian friends. We want to live with each other’s happiness. We have suffered as you suffered under dictatorship. The same is happening today in your country.
The Iranian people are standing up for their liberty and we are supporting them. The international community will see what’s happening in Iran. Many have sacrificed their lives. No power lasts forever. Only one thing lasts forever: The dream of living free.
Fatmir Mediu, Leader of Albanian Republican Party
6:50 PM Paris time
After the speeches by the Albanian delegation, a group of Albanian artists take the stage to perform a traditional Albanian song.
Music performed by Ablanian youth
6:30 PM Paris time
Delegation from Syria takes the stage to address the gathering.
Nazir Hakim, Secretary General of the Syrian Coalition: I salute the rebellion of our people who stand in the face of dictatorship and fight both the Iranian and the Syrian regime. We salute the heroic resistance of the Iranian people who are facing the dictatorship in Iran. There’s true resistance of our brothers and sisters and we’re battling the same regimes. We hope we will win.
Nazir Hakim, Secretary General of the Syrian Coalition
We will win against the tyrants of Damascus and Tehran. I salute anyone who protest against dictatorship. The hopes of the Syrian people revived when we saw our brothers and sisters in Iran protesting and chanting slogans against the dictatorship that has been affecting the entire region.
The voice of Iran and Syria represent the voice of freedom everywhere. We know that change is coming. As a resistance we call for peace and justice and security and freedom and respect of every religion and gender. That is what we’re trying to do in Syria and Iran.
This is a cancerous regime. It should be removed. We need your words and also your support. The future is for the Iranian resistance and the Iranian people who are in the streets today. Mrs. Rajavi’s ten-point plan guarantees that Iran will be free. The Syrian and Iranian people are one.
Maryam Rajavi speaks at Grand Iranian Gathering, Paris, 2018
6:40 PM Paris time
A video of recent protests in Iran is played, showing the people confront the regime and its repressive forces in different cities of Iran and chanting slogans against the regime in its entirety and its highest authorities.
Video of recent protests in Iran
6:10 PM Paris time
Delegation of Iranian experts take the floor.
Kazem Kazerounian: The protests in recent days show that the fall of the regime will happen soon. Technological progress is also having its effect on the political and economic landscape of Iran. We’re at the cusp of a revolution and these advances will help it considerably and support the people. The regime of Iran is the enemy of science. Only a government that is in line with scientific progress and seeks the welfare of its people will be able to assume power.
Delegation of Iranian experts
A video shows activists paying homage to the martyrs of PMOI and the victims of the 1988 massacre of political prisoners. Flowers were laid on the graves of martyrs on behalf of Mrs. Rajavi and the participants of the Free Iran Gathering.
Iranian activists paying homage to the fallens
Along with the videos, voice recordings convey messages of determination and resoluteness to continue the uprising until freedom in Iran is achieved. At the same time, PMOI members in Albania are holding pictures of martyrs symbolizing four decades of resistance against the tyranny of the mullahs’ regime.
Iranian activists paying homage to the martyrs of PMOI
6:20 PM Paris time
Popular singer Marjan takes the stage to perform a song titled, “It’s time to overthrow (the Iranian regime).”
Popular singer Marjan performs on stage Free Iran 2018
6:25 PM Paris time
NCRI member Zinat Mirhashemi takes the floor to address the audience.
Mirhashemi: Thank you all for your contribution to the resistance of the Iranian people. In every corner of Iran, we can see several generations of the Iranian people are joining our struggle to say no to the Islamic Republic.
At the forefront of this struggle are workers, teachers, farmers, nurses, and especially the women. The people will no longer tolerate tyranny and oppression of the regime.
The struggles of the people entered a new phase in January. The people don’t believe in change from within the regime but by overthrowing the Iranian regime.
NCRI member Zinat Mirhashemi
The regime has only added to the misery of the Iranian people and the environmental disaster of the country through its mismanagement and its violent meddling in the region. The people are showing that they want to get rid of the dictatorship.
We pay tribute to the martyrs of freedom in Iran. These martyrs helped pave the way for what we’re seeing today. We can see a future where we can avenge their death and this day will stay in history forever.
We hope that next year, this gathering will take place in a democratic Iran. As Mrs. Rajavi said, victory will come.
6:00 PM Paris time
Mrs. Rajavi declares that the PMOI members will connect directly with the convention and address the crowd.
Nasrin Massih, deputy secretary general of PMOI/MEK: We salute you from Ashraf 3. On the anniversary of the resistance against the Iranian regime, we pay tribute to the martyrs. The PMOI are proud to sacrifice everything so that they can obtain everything for their people.
Nasrin Massih, deputy secretary general of MEK
Your support made our persistence and resistance against the worst dictatorship in contemporary history possible.
The regime can’t stop the truth with deceit and conspiracy.
Hejrat Moezi, member of the PMOI Central Council: With the growing uprisings in Iran, we are approaching the goal of freedom. I have personally experienced the Iranian regime’s suppression. The large number of Iranian youth in the resistance movement shows the regime’s failure.
'Grand Iranian Gathering in Paris'
5:45 PM Paris time
An exposition symbolizes the ongoing protests of the Iranian people, despite the hardships and suppression imposed by the Iranian regime. The solidarity between the Iranian people and the networks of the PMOI, free Iran will become a reality.
