The Albanian delegation chaired by Edmond Spaho, Vice President of the Albanian Parliament expressed his country’s willingness to support the Iranian people and the Resistance in their struggle for freedom and democracy in Iran.
“I know that 120,000 political activists have been executed in your country [Iran] for their belief in democracy,” Mr. Spaho told a major conference in Paris on human rights in Iran on October 10 on the occasion of the World Day Against the Death Penalty. He was referring to the 120,000 members and supporters of the main Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI, or MEK).
“I also know that under [Hassan] Rouhani, the so-called moderate president of the regime, 2000 people have been executed in just two years.”
“I know freedom of speech does not exist in your country at all. I know that freedom of religion also means nothing” in Iran.
“We in our country are also experiencing the Iranian refugees from Camp Liberty, those who are symbols for defense of human rights in their country. We have 600 Iranian people in Albania today and they will be 800 by the end of the year. We have become familiar with their painful stories. We have heard about their sufferings in Camp Liberty, about the cruel medical siege that no human being can accept and approve.”
Thousands of PMOI (MEK) members in Camp Liberty, Iraq, who are recognized as refugees by the UN Refugee Agency, are facing a humanitarian siege which has been imposed at the behest of the Iranian regime.
“They have been brutally attacked and badly treated only because they want freedom for their people and nothing more,” Mr. Spaho said.
“However there is one thing that attracts the most and that is the existence of a movement that has existed and struggled against the dictatorship and for human rights and democracy. In Iran, for more than three decades and with all the hardship, but yet even survived in such high spirit and remains even more active for human rights and justice. This is a new phenomenon, to stand for so long and not give up needs tremendous amount of sacrifice, courage, true belief in human values and principles and high spirits in all. You have had this for so long and you should be congratulated for it.”
Mr. Spaho also expressed support for Iranian opposition leader Mrs. Maryam Rajavi for her leadership of the Iranian Resistance.
“I think it should also be mentioned that in every movement you can proceed with great perseverance only if you have a democratic and confident leader. I am glad to say that you have had this as well and you have been lead competently. I think this is a sign of victory for you. This in itself indicates that you are a legitimate movement and it will guarantee your final victory in bringing human rights and democracy to Iran.”
“However just like in the other examples of the past what remains for the international community is the human conscious and the record which will be closed and assessed in the future. Of course Iran will be freed and the Iranian citizens will have the chance to live freely in peace under a democratic government. But then we will be asked about what did in our relationship with the dictatorial regime of Iran and how it treated the Iranian people and victims in their hard times.”
“It should be clear that only the Iranian opposition can guarantee a region without nuclear weapons and an Iran that is free and democratic and an ally to the western world to fight terrorism and fundamentalism. Therefore the international community should make a choice to stand on the right side of the history so in future it can be proud to defend its past conduct. I am happy to be here today and I wish you lots of success in your struggle for freedom and justice in Iran. I am on your side and you will always have my support and the support of my country.”
