Analysis by PMOI/MEK
Iran, June 23, 2019 – Every movement that strives for freedom and rights of the people proves its mettle on the social front and in its daily confrontation with the enemy of the people.
But how can we tell real alternatives from fake ones? How can we tell which of the movements that claim to be Iranian oppositions truly care for the welfare of the Iranian people?
During the 1979 revolution, the Iranian people knew what they didn't want: The Shah dictatorship. But they didn't have a clear idea of what there should be. This is why the mullahs, with Ruhollah Khomeini at their helm, took advantage of the situation and the lack of presence of revolutionary forces to claim the revolution as their own and to seize power and establish a brutal dictatorship.
Interestingly, Khomeini had no plan for the future of Iran, and whenever reporters asked him about his platform and plans, he provided vague answers. If before his return to Iran, Khomeini honestly admitted that he had no vision and plan for rebuilding the country, there was little chance that the people of Iran would let him rise to power.
One of the ways to examine and assess the seriousness and validity of an opposition movement is its platform for the future of the country.
On the morrow of the 1979 revolution, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) declared their program for Iran. During the presidential race a year later, MEK leader Massoud Rajavi introduced a 12-point plan for his government.
Two years after its founding, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) presented its plan for the provisionary government of Iran after the overthrow of the mullahs' regime.
Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the NCRI, presented her ten-point plan for the future of Iran in the grand rally of the Iranian people in Paris in 2013.
This plan expresses the Iranian resistance's vision for a free and democratic state, which respects the rights of all its citizens regardless of their gender, religion, and ethnicity, and is conformant to the values and norms recognized across the world.
Following are the key ideas of Mrs. Rajavi's ten-point plan:
1. In our view, the ballot box is the only criterion for legitimacy. Accordingly, we seek a republic based on universal suffrage.
2. We want a pluralist system, freedom of parties and assembly. We respect all individual freedoms. We underscore complete freedom of expression and of the media and unconditional access by all to the internet.
3. We support and are committed to the abolition of death penalty.
4. We are committed to the separation of Church and State. Any form of discrimination against the followers of any religion and denomination will be prohibited.
5. We believe in complete gender equality in political, social and economic arenas. We are also committed to equal participation of women in political leadership. Any form of discrimination against women will be abolished. They will enjoy the right to freely choose their clothing. They are free in marriage, divorce, education, and employment.
6. We believe in the rule of law and justice. We want to set up a modern legal system based on the principles of presumption of innocence, the right to defense, effective judicial protection and the right to be tried in a public court. We also seek the total independence of judges. The mullahs’ Sharia law will be abolished.
7. We are committed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and international covenants and conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture, and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. We are committed to the equality of all nationalities. We underscore the plan for the autonomy of Iranian Kurdistan, adopted by the National Council of Resistance of Iran. The language and culture of our compatriots from whatever nationality, are among our nation’s human resources and must spread and be promulgated in tomorrow’s Iran.
8. We recognize private property, private investment, and the market economy. All Iranian people must enjoy equal opportunity in employment and in business ventures. We will protect and revitalize the environment.
9. Our foreign policy will be based on peaceful coexistence, international and regional peace and cooperation, as well as respect for the United Nations Charter.
10. We want a non-nuclear Iran, free of weapons of mass destruction.
