Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, February 9, 2020—Freedom-loving Iranians, along with supporters of the Iranian opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and its parent coalition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), held simultaneous massive rallies on Saturday, February 8, in the cities of Washington, London, Toronto and Stockholm. These demonstrations marked the 41st anniversary of Iran’s 1979 anti-monarchical revolution and voiced support for brave Iranians continuing to protest the mullahs’ regime as we speak.
The demonstrators, gathering from the four corners of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Sweden to take part in these rallies, voiced their support for a call issued by NCRI President Maryam Rajavi on the international community to recognize the fact that the mullahs’ regime ruling Iran does not represent the Iranian nation. The right of the Iranian people and their organized Resistance to topple the religious fascism ruling Iran should be recognized by governments across the globe.
“Your gathering and rally today in Stockholm is a clear testament to the Iranian people’s relentless resolve to achieve freedom and to overthrow the inhuman clerical regime,” said Madam Rajavi.
Your gathering and rally today in Stockholm is a clear testament to the Iranian people’s relentless resolve to achieve freedom and to overthrow the inhuman clerical regime. #IranProtests #FreeIran2020 #IranRegimeChangehttps://t.co/47redKD25d pic.twitter.com/08YRfOKJkX
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) February 8, 2020
“Indeed, after 40 years of the mullahs’ rule, we are confronted with a country whose soil is destroyed, its air is polluted, its forests have been devastated, its lakes, ponds, and rivers have been dried and its environment destroyed,” she added.
Indeed, after 40 years of the mullahs’ rule, we are confronted with a country whose soil is destroyed, its air is polluted, its forests have been devastated, its lakes, ponds and rivers have been dried and its environment destroyed.#IranProtests #FreeIran2020 #IranRegimeChange
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) February 8, 2020
“After 40 years of the mullahs’ rule, Iranian people are vulnerable in the face of floods and earthquakes, victims of road crashes, distressed by poverty, forced to sell body parts and humiliated by unemployment, and drug addiction,” Mrs. Rajavi told the NCRI and PMOI/MEK supporters at the rally in Sweden.
After 40 years of the mullahs’ rule, Iranian people are vulnerable in the face of floods & earthquakes, victims of road crashes, distressed by poverty, forced to sell body parts & humiliated by unemployment, & drug addiction. #IranRegimeChangehttps://t.co/47redKD25d pic.twitter.com/Yvjxxx6Cey
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) February 8, 2020
“The Iranian people’s sovereignty cannot be usurped. This is the Iranian people’s right for which they have fought and paid the ultimate price, and they will certainly achieve it.”
The Iranian people’s sovereignty cannot be usurped. This is the Iranian people’s right for which they have fought and paid the ultimate price, and they will certainly achieve it. #FreeIran2020 #Iran pic.twitter.com/wpsOW4a2DV
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) February 8, 2020
PMOI/MEK supporters in these four major cities paid tribute to the over the 1,500 protesters killed by the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and Basij paramilitary forces during the November 2019 nationwide uprising. Condolences were also expressed to the families and friends of the 176 innocent people killed when the IRGC shot down a Ukrainian airliner last month.
In Washington, D.C., a large number of Iranian Americans from as far as California and other states gathered outside the White House to voice their support for ongoing protests in Iran and their compatriots who brave all odds and risk their lives in their efforts against the mullahs’ dictatorship.
February 8 – Washington, DC
Iranian-Americans rallying in support of #IranProtests & PMOI/MEK network in #Iran.pic.twitter.com/9oEZo5cHCl— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 8, 2020
Former Congressman Ted Poe and Col. Wesley Martin, a former U.S. Army senior anti-terrorism officer in Iraq, and Ms. Soona Samsami, NCRI Representative in the United States, were among the speakers.
“We are witnessing Citizens of Middle East are finally coming out to protest against Iran’s interference in their country: IRGC and Qassem Soleimoni was responsible for scores of attacks on U.S. interests including 600 Americans servicemen,” said Col. Wes Martin, who served many tours in Iraq and witnessed attacks by Iranian regime proxies first hand.
February 8 – Washington, DC
"Regime change in Iran, by the people of Iran!"
Rally outside the White House in support of #IranProtests.#FreeIran2020pic.twitter.com/0Qjv3C6Xao— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 8, 2020
NCRI U.S. Representative Ms. Soona Samsami delivered a speech at the DC rally emphasizing, “We believe all Iranians are born free and equal. They deserve freedom, democracy and the right to freely elect their government. Dictators, however, be it monarchs like the Shah or the mullahs, believe otherwise… We have made a pledge to overthrow this regime and return to our people their rights and freedoms, a pluralistic government where the people and ballot box rules.”
In London, Anglo-Iranians and NCRI and PMOI/MEK supporters, joined by several British lawmakers, held a major rally at Trafalgar Square.
February 8
Iranians in the UK & Sweden rallying in support of #IranProtests & the PMOI/MEK network inside #Iran. pic.twitter.com/47toUW5ckT— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 8, 2020
“The wave of popular protests across Iran that the world has witnessed for the last two years, which senior officials of the regime including the Supreme Leader admit are organized by the main Iranian opposition, the PMOI/MEK, and their resistance units, show that the Iranian people, assisted by their pro-democracy opposition, are determined to take back their country and the 1979 anti-monarchic revolution that the mullahs hijacked 41 years ago,” said Dr. Matthew Offord, Conservative MP for Hendon and a leading member of the British Committee for Iran Freedom.
@Offord4Hendon:
Today, I join Anglo-Iranian communities in the UK to call on UK Government to recognise the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people and to back the democratic alternative presented by the NCRI and Mrs @Maryam_Rajavi’s 10-point plan for future #Iran.#FreeIran pic.twitter.com/mdrizXcqwy— Dowlat Nowrouzi (@DowlatNowrouzi) February 8, 2020
Mr. Mark Williams, former Liberal Democrat MP, also delivered a speech at the NCRI and PMOI/MEK supporters’ rally in London. “Since the clerical regime usurped power in Iran four decades ago, it has turned the country into a large prison for the 80 million Iranians who dreamt of a better future,” he said. “With their recent protests targeting the Supreme Leader and the regime in its entirety, the Iranian people are rejecting the theocratic rule in Iran, its domestic repression and its destabilizing role in the Middle East. The continuation of the protests is a validation of NCRI’s call for a democratic change in Iran by the people of Iran and a testament to the people’s determination to bring about this change and the UK Government must recognize this reality and back this popular quest for a free and democratic Iran,” the distinguished MP emphasized.
@mark4ceredigion ex Liberal Democrat MP:
Since Mullahs usurped power in #Iran, the country turned into large prison for 80 millions.
Recent #IranProtests targeting Supreme Leader &entire regime,Iran ppl are rejecting theocratic rule, domestic repression &destabilising role in ME. pic.twitter.com/EKPDKQnfO1— Dowlat Nowrouzi (@DowlatNowrouzi) February 8, 2020
In Toronto, MEK and NCRI supporters organized a rally calling on the international community to hold Tehran accountable for its heinous crimes and stand with the Iranian people.
In their demonstrations, the Iranian communities throughout Europe and in the US and Canada called on world leaders, the UK and the European Union, to condemn the clerical regime in Iran for its countless crimes and to stand with the Iranian people in their desire for the establishment of a pluralistic and democratic government.
February 8 – Toronto
Freedom loving Iranian-Canadians & PMOI/MEK sympathizers rally to voice their support for #IranProtests & regime change in #Iran by the people of Iran.#FreeIran2020pic.twitter.com/TB91kUwi2S— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 8, 2020
The Iranians at the rally in Stockholm received messages of solidarity from several Swedish parliamentarians. Mr. Paulo Casaca, a former member of the European Parliament and Director of the South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF), and Mr. Parviz Khazai, representative of the NCRI in Nordic countries were among the speakers of the rally.
The Iranian’s at the Rally in Sweden received messages of solidarity by several Swedish parliamentarians send solidarity. Mr. Paulo Casaca former member of the European Parliament, and Mr. Parviz Khazaei, NCRI Representative in Nordic countries were among the speakers at the events.
@paulocasaca1 ex MP of @Europarl_EN addressed today's rally in Sweden:#Iran people are aiming a genuine democracy & #FreeIran which we all must respect & support.
We will pressure UN & EU to respond to their duties with regards to violations of human rights during #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/bRtOYRoULG— Dowlat Nowrouzi (@DowlatNowrouzi) February 8, 2020
